Psalms 107:12

Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and [there was] none to help.

Therefore he brought down {H3665} their heart {H3820} with labour {H5999}; they fell down {H3782}, and there was none to help {H5826}.

So he humbled their hearts by hard labor; when they stumbled, no one came to their aid.

He humbled their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.

Psalm 107:12 is a poignant verse from a psalm of thanksgiving, detailing the plight of those who found themselves in deep distress due to their own rebellion against God.

Context

Psalm 107 is a powerful hymn celebrating God's steadfast love and deliverance. It recounts four specific groups of people who experienced dire circumstances – wanderers in the wilderness, prisoners in darkness, the sick afflicted by their sin, and sailors facing storms – all of whom "cried unto the Lord in their trouble," and He delivered them. Verse 12 falls within the second group (verses 10-16), describing those "bound in affliction and iron" because they "rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High." This verse vividly portrays the severe consequences of their disobedience, setting the stage for their eventual cry for help and God's intervention.

Key Themes

  • Consequence of Rebellion: The verse highlights the direct result of defying God's counsel. Their suffering was not random but a consequence of their choices, leading to a state of profound hardship and spiritual weariness.
  • Divine Discipline: "He brought down their heart" indicates God's active role in allowing or orchestrating their distress. This was a form of divine discipline, intended to humble them and lead them to repentance and recognition of their need for Him.
  • Utter Helplessness: The phrase "none to help" underscores the complete and overwhelming nature of their predicament. Human efforts or external aid were insufficient, emphasizing their desperate need for a divine rescuer. This helplessness is often a precursor to genuine spiritual turning.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "brought down their heart" uses the Hebrew verb kana' (כָּנַע), meaning "to humble," "to subdue," or "to bring low." The "heart" (lev - לֵב) in Hebrew thought refers to the whole inner person – intellect, will, and emotions. Thus, it signifies a deep, internal humbling and breaking of their spirit, not just external affliction.
  • "Labour" translates the Hebrew word 'amal (עָמָל), which can mean toil, trouble, misery, or grievous effort. It conveys a sense of crushing burden and deep-seated distress, encompassing both physical hardship and emotional anguish.
  • The declaration "none to help" (מֵאֵין עֹזֵר - me'ein 'ozer) powerfully expresses their utter lack of assistance, reinforcing the idea that they were truly abandoned to their plight until God intervened.

Practical Application

Psalm 107:12 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Recognizing Consequences: It serves as a stark reminder that choices have consequences. Rebellion against God's truth often leads to spiritual and emotional distress, a truth echoed in Proverbs 13:15, "the way of transgressors is hard."
  • Humility in Hardship: When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, especially when "none to help" seems true, it can be a divine invitation to humility and an opportunity to examine our hearts and turn back to God.
  • God's Ultimate Help: Even when human help fails, God's power is limitless. The very purpose of this deep distress is often to lead individuals to cry out to the Lord, knowing He is the only true source of deliverance and a very present help in trouble.

This verse, though depicting deep suffering, ultimately sets the stage for the glorious deliverance that God provides to those who humble themselves and seek Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 22:11

    ¶ Be not far from me; for trouble [is] near; for [there is] none to help.

  • Exodus 5:18

    Go therefore now, [and] work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

  • Exodus 5:19

    And the officers of the children of Israel did see [that] they [were] in evil [case], after it was said, Ye shall not minish [ought] from your bricks of your daily task.

  • Exodus 2:23

    ¶ And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

  • Luke 15:14

    And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

  • Luke 15:17

    And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

  • Isaiah 51:23

    But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

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