21 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them.
22 Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.
23 Some went off in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. 24 They, too, observed the LORD's power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas.
25 He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves.
26 Their ships were tossed to the heavens and sank again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits' end.
28 "LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
29 He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.
30 What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!
31 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them.
32 Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.
33 He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry land.
34 He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands, because of the wickedness of those who live there.
35 But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into flowing springs.
36 He brings the hungry to settle there and build their cities.
37 They sow their fields, plant their vineyards, and harvest their bumper crops.
38 How he blesses them! They raise large families there, and their herds of cattle increase.
39 When they decrease in number and become impoverished through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,
40 the LORD pours contempt on their princes, causing them to wander in trackless wastelands.
41 But he rescues the poor from their distress and increases their families like vast flocks of sheep.
42 The godly will see these things and be glad, while the wicked are stricken silent.
43 Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD.
The key thought in this psalm is repeated five times, "Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them."
The psalmist is strongly exhorting us to see and understand the love of the Lord, and His great works toward men, so that we will sing forth His praises.
I think it is so poignant that the the psalmist closes this great Psalm with verse 40, "Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD."
Do you comprehend the Lord's love and great works? Then let us join with the psalmist and say so!
