Psalms 106:5

5 To see in the goodness of thy chosen men, to be glad in the gladness of thy folk; that thou be praised with thine heritage. (So that I may see the goodness of thy chosen people, and that I be glad, or rejoice, in the gladness of thy nation; and so that I may have glory with thy inheritance.)

Psalms 106:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 106:5

That I may see the good of thy chosen
The elect, according to the foreknowledge of God; who are chosen in Christ to holiness and happiness, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth unto salvation by him; the vessels of mercy afore prepared unto glory, both of Jews and Gentiles. The "good" of those is not any goodness of their own, for there is none in them naturally; they are by nature no better than others, none are good, nor do good, no, not one: but the goodness of God laid up for them, and bestowed on them; the blessings of goodness with which Christ is preparing for them; all the good things secured for them in a well ordered covenant; which they partake of in time, and to eternity. To "see" these is not to have a superficial, notional, knowledge of them, as hypocrites may have; or a distant view of them, as Balaam, and the rich man in hell; but to have an experience of them, possess them, and enjoy them.

That I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation;
all the nations of the world are the Lord's; but there is a chosen generation, an holy nation, that is peculiarly his; a nation taken out of a nation, nay, taken out of all the nations that are upon earth: and these have a joy peculiar to them, which foreigners know nothing of, and strangers intermeddle not with; a spiritual joy in the Holy Ghost; a rejoicing in Christ Jesus, in his person, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, and in hope of the glory of God; and such joy is desirable, a joy unspeakable, and full of glory.

That I may glory with thine inheritance;
the same with his chosen people and nation: for the Lord's people is his portion, and the lot of his inheritance; they are chosen for an inheritance, given to Christ as such, with which he is well pleased, esteeming them a goodly heritage; they are his purchased possession, his jewels and peculiar treasure. These "glory" not in themselves, in their strength and wisdom, their riches and righteousness; but in Christ and in his righteousness, and in what he is made unto them. And the psalmist desires to join with them, and glory in what they did, and in no other; and unite with them in giving glory to God and Christ, now and hereafter, for his salvation, and all good things from him.

Psalms 106:5 In-Context

3 Blessed be they that keep doom; and do rightfulness in all time. (Happy be they who obey his commands, or his judgements; and who always do what is right.)
4 Lord, have thou mind on us, in the good pleasance of thy people; visit thou us in thine health. (Lord, remember me when thou helpest thy people; include me in their salvation, or in their deliverance.)
5 To see in the goodness of thy chosen men, to be glad in the gladness of thy folk; that thou be praised with thine heritage. (So that I may see the goodness of thy chosen people, and that I be glad, or rejoice, in the gladness of thy nation; and so that I may have glory with thy inheritance.)
6 We have sinned with our fathers; we have done unjustly, we have done wickedness. (We have all sinned like our forefathers; we have all done unjustly, we have all done wickedness.)
7 Our fathers in Egypt understood not thy marvels; they were not mindful of the multitude of thy mercy. And they going into the sea, into the Red Sea, stirred (him) to wrath; (Our forefathers in Egypt did not understand thy marvellous deeds; they did not remember thy many loving deeds. And they stirred thee to anger at the sea, yea, at the Red Sea/And they rebelled against thee at the sea, yea, at the Sea of Reeds;)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.