Psalms 105

1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!

3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

4 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

6 O seed of Abraham His servant, You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

7 He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.

8 He remembers His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,

9 The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac,

10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

11 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"

12 When they were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in it.

13 When they went from one nation to another, From one kingdom to another people,

14 He permitted no one to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,

15 Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm."

16 Moreover He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread.

17 He sent a man before them-- Joseph--who was sold as a slave.

18 They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons.

19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him.

20 The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free.

21 He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his possessions,

22 To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.

23 Israel also came into Egypt, And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.

24 He increased His people greatly, And made them stronger than their enemies.

25 He turned their heart to hate His people, To deal craftily with His servants.

26 He sent Moses His servant, And Aaron whom He had chosen.

27 They performed His signs among them, And wonders in the land of Ham.

28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; And they did not rebel against His word.

29 He turned their waters into blood, And killed their fish.

30 Their land abounded with frogs, Even in the chambers of their kings.

31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, And lice in all their territory.

32 He gave them hail for rain, And flaming fire in their land.

33 He struck their vines also, and their fig trees, And splintered the trees of their territory.

34 He spoke, and locusts came, Young locusts without number,

35 And ate up all the vegetation in their land, And devoured the fruit of their ground.

36 He also destroyed all the firstborn in their land, The first of all their strength.

37 He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes.

38 Egypt was glad when they departed, For the fear of them had fallen upon them.

39 He spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to give light in the night.

40 The people asked, and He brought quail, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ran in the dry places like a river.

42 For He remembered His holy promise, And Abraham His servant.

43 He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness.

44 He gave them the lands of the Gentiles, And they inherited the labor of the nations,

45 That they might observe His statutes And keep His laws. Praise the Lord!

Psalms 105 Commentary

Chapter 105

A solemn call to praise and serve the Lord. (1-7) His gracious dealings with Israel. (8-23) Their deliverance from Egypt, and their settlement in Canaan. (24-45)

Verses 1-7 Our devotion is here stirred up, that we may stir up ourselves to praise God. Seek his strength; that is, his grace; the strength of his Spirit to work in us that which is good, which we cannot do but by strength derived from him, for which he will be sought. Seek to have his favour to eternity, therefore continue seeking it while living in this world; for he will not only be found, but he will reward those that diligently seek him.

Verses 8-23 Let us remember the Redeemer's marvellous works, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. Though true Christians are few number, strangers and pilgrims upon earth, yet a far better inheritance than Canaan is made sure to them by the covenant of God; and if we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, none can do us any harm. Afflictions are among our mercies. They prove our faith and love, they humble our pride, they wean us from the world, and quicken our prayers. Bread is the staff which supports life; when that staff is broken, the body fails and sinks to the earth. The word of God is the staff of spiritual life, the food and support of the soul: the sorest judgment is a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. Such a famine was sore in all lands when Christ appeared in the flesh; whose coming, and the blessed effect of it, are shadowed forth in the history of Joseph. At the appointed time Christ was exalted as Mediator; all the treasures of grace and salvation are at his disposal, perishing sinners come to him, and are relieved by him.

Verses 24-45 As the believer commonly thrives best in his soul when under the cross; so the church also flourishes most in true holiness, and increases in number, while under persecution. Yet instruments shall be raised up for their deliverance, and plagues may be expected by persecutors. And see the special care God took of his people in the wilderness. All the benefits bestowed on Israel as a nation, were shadows of spiritual blessings with which we are blessed in Christ Jesus. Having redeemed us with his blood, restored our souls to holiness, and set us at liberty from Satan's bondage, he guides and guards us all the way. He satisfies our souls with the bread of heaven, and the water of life from the Rock of salvation, and will bring us safely to heaven. He redeems his servants from all iniquity, and purifies them unto himself, to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 105

This psalm was penned by David, and sung at the time when the ark was brought from the house of Obededom to the place which David had prepared for it; at least the first fifteen verses of it, the other part being probably added afterwards by the same inspired penman, as appears from 1Ch 16:1-7. The subject matter of the psalm is the special and distinguishing goodness of God to the children of Israel, and to his church and people, of which they were typical: the history of God's regard to and care of their principal ancestors, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and of the whole body of the people, in bringing them out of Egypt, leading them through the wilderness, and settling them in the land of Canaan, is here recited, as an argument for praise and thankfulness.