Psalms 105

1 (104-1) Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his deeds among the Gentiles.

2 (104-2) Sing to him, yea sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous works.

3 (104-3) Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

4 (104-4) Seek ye the lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore.

5 (104-5) Remember his marvellous works which he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.

6 (104-6) O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen.

7 (104-7) He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.

8 (104-8) He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

9 (104-9) Which he made to Abraham; and his oath to Isaac:

10 (104-10) And he appointed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting testament:

11 (104-11) Saying: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan, the lot of your inheritance.

12 (104-12) When they were but a small number: yea very few, and sojourners therein:

13 (104-13) And they passed from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people.

14 (104-14) He suffered no man to hurt them: and he reproved kings for their sakes.

15 (104-15) Touch ye not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets.

16 (104-16) And he called a famine upon the land: and he broke in pieces all the support of bread.

17 (104-17) He sent a man before them: Joseph, who was sold for a slave.

18 (104-18) They humbled his feet in fetters: the iron pierced his soul,

19 (104-19) Until his word came. The word of the Lord inflamed him.

20 (104-20) The king sent, and he released him: the ruler of the people, and he set him at liberty.

21 (104-21) He made him master of his house, and ruler of all his possession.

22 (104-22) That he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his ancients wisdom.

23 (104-23) And Israel went into Egypt: and Jacob was a sojourner in the land of Cham.

24 (104-24) And he increased his people exceedingly: and strengthened them over their enemies.

25 (104-25) He turned their heart to hate his people: and to deal deceitfully with his servants.

26 (104-26) He sent Moses his servant: Aaron the man whom he had chosen.

27 (104-27) He gave them power to shew them signs, and his wonders in the land of Cham.

28 (104-28) He sent darkness, and made it obscure: and grieved not his words.

29 (104-29) He turned their waters into blood, and destroyed their fish.

30 (104-30) Their land brought forth frogs, in the inner chambers of their kings.

31 (104-31) He spoke, and there came divers sorts of flies and sciniphs in all their coasts.

32 (104-32) He gave them hail for rain, a burning fire in the land.

33 (104-33) And he destroyed their vineyards and their fig trees: and he broke in pieces the trees of their coasts.

34 (104-34) He spoke, and the locust came, and the bruchus, of which there was no number.

35 (104-35) And they devoured all the grass in their land, and consumed all the fruit of their ground.

36 (104-36) And he slew all the firstborn in their land: the firstfruits of all their labour.

37 (104-37) And he brought them out with silver and gold: and there was not among their tribes one that was feeble.

38 (104-38) Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them lay upon them.

39 (104-39) He spread a cloud for their protection, and fire to give them light in the night.

40 (104-40) They asked, and the quail came: and he filled them with the bread of heaven.

41 (104-41) He opened the rock, and waters flowed: rivers ran down in the dry land.

42 (104-42) Because he remembered his holy word, which he had spoken to his servant Abraham.

43 (104-43) And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness.

44 (104-44) And he gave them the lands of the Gentiles: and they possessed the labours of the people:

45 (104-45) That they might observe his justifications, and seek after his law.

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.