Psalms 107:19
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ
Then they cry
H2199
וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ
Then they cry
Strong's:
H2199
Word #:
1 of 7
to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly
יְ֭הוָה
unto the LORD
H3068
יְ֭הוָה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Psalms 107:13Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.Psalms 107:6Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.Jeremiah 33:3Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Historical Context
Scripture records numerous healings when sufferers cried to God: Hezekiah's terminal illness healed (2 Kings 20:1-6), Miriam's leprosy (Numbers 12:13-15), deadly snake bites (Numbers 21:7-9). Jesus' healing ministry demonstrated God's power to save from distresses of sickness. James instructs sick believers to call for elders to pray (James 5:14-15), continuing this pattern of crying to God in sickness.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God often wait until we're in extremity before delivering?
- How should sickness drive believers to prayer?
- What is the relationship between faith, prayer, and healing?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse repeats the distress-cry-deliverance pattern (cf. vv. 6, 13). 'Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble' shows extremity drives prayer. At death's threshold, they cry out. 'And he saveth them out of their distresses' uses yasha (יָשַׁע), to save or deliver. The pattern's repetition across different scenarios (lost wanderers, imprisoned rebels, sick fools) emphasizes its universality: whatever the specific distress, crying to God brings salvation. This teaches that no situation is beyond God's power to deliver from, and that desperate prayer is the proper response to any extremity.