Psalms 105

Tell of His Wonders

1 Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; ¹ make known His deeds among the nations.

2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.

3 Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

4 Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

5 Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

6 O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

7 He is the LORD our God; His judgments carry throughout the earth.

8 He remembers His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations—

9 the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac.

10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

11 “I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”

12 When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land,

13 they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

14 He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf:

15 “Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!”

16 He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies ^[a] of food.

17 He sent a man before them— Joseph, sold as a slave.

18 They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons,

19 until his prediction came true and the word of the LORD proved him right.

20 The king sent and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free.

21 He made him master of his household, ruler over all his substance,

22 to instruct ^[b] his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.

23 Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.

24 And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,

25 whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants.

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

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

28 He sent darkness, and it became dark— yet they defied His words. ^[c]

29 He turned their waters to blood and caused their fish to die.

30 Their land teemed with frogs, even in their royal chambers.

31 He spoke, and insects swarmed— gnats throughout their country.

32 He gave them hail for rain, with lightning throughout their land.

33 He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country.

34 He spoke, and the locusts came— young locusts without number.

35 They devoured every plant in their land and consumed the produce of their soil.

36 Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.

37 He brought Israel out with silver and gold, and none among His tribes stumbled.

38 Egypt was glad when they departed, for the dread of Israel had fallen on them.

39 He spread a cloud as a covering and a fire to light up the night.

40 They asked, and He brought quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

41 He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.

42 For He remembered His holy promise to Abraham His servant.

43 He brought forth His people with rejoicing, His chosen with shouts of joy.

44 He gave them the lands of the nations, that they might inherit the fruit of others’ labor,

45 that they might keep His statutes and obey His laws. Hallelujah! ^[d]

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.

Cross References

• 1. (1 Chronicles 16:7–22)

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew staff
• [b]. LXX and Syriac; MT to bind
• [c]. LXX and Syriac; Hebrew for had they not defied His words?
• [d]. Or Hallelu YAH, meaning Praise the LORD

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.