Psalms 105

Psalm 105

1 Give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make his deeds known to all people!

2 Sing to God; sing praises to the Lord; dwell on all his wondrous works!

3 Give praise to God's holy name! Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the LORD!

4 Pursue the LORD and his strength; seek his face always!

5 Remember the wondrous works he has done, all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared—

6 you who are the offspring of Abraham, his servant, and the children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7 The LORD—he is our God. His justice is everywhere throughout the whole world.

8 God remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded to a thousand generations,

9 which he made with Abraham, the solemn pledge he swore to Isaac.

10 God set it up as binding law for Jacob, as an eternal covenant for Israel,

11 promising, "I hereby give you the land of Canaan as your allotted inheritance."

12 When they were few in number— insignificant, just immigrants—

13 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to the next,

14 God didn't let anyone oppress them. God punished kings for their sake:

15 "Don't touch my anointed ones; don't harm my prophets!"

16 When God called for a famine in the land, destroying every source of food,

17 he sent a man ahead of them, who was sold as a slave: it was Joseph.

18 Joseph's feet hurt in his shackles; his neck was in an iron collar,

19 until what he predicted actually happened, until what the LORD had said proved him true.

20 The king sent for Joseph and set him free; the ruler of many people released him.

21 The king made Joseph master of his house and ruler over everything he owned,

22 to make sure his princes acted according to his will, and to teach wisdom to his advisors.

23 That's how Israel came to Egypt, how Jacob became an immigrant in the land of Ham.

24 God made his people very fruitful, more powerful than their enemies,

25 whose hearts God changed so they hated his people and dealt shrewdly with his servants.

26 God sent Moses his servant and the one he chose, Aaron.

27 They put God's signs on Egypt, his marvelous works on the land of Ham.

28 God sent darkness, and it became dark, but the Egyptians rejected his word.

29 God turned their waters into blood and killed their fish.

30 God made their land swarm with frogs— even in the bedrooms of their king!

31 God spoke, and the insects came— gnats throughout their whole country!

32 God turned their rain into hail along with lightning flashes throughout their land.

33 God destroyed their vines and their fig trees; shattered the trees of their countryside.

34 God spoke, and the locusts came— countless grasshoppers came!

35 They devoured all the plants in their land; they devoured the fruit of their soil.

36 God struck down all the oldest sons throughout their land; struck down their very pride and joy.

37 Then God brought Israel out, filled with silver and gold; not one of its tribes stumbled.

38 Egypt celebrated when they left, because the dread of Israel had come upon them.

39 God spread out clouds as a covering; gave lightning to provide light at night.

40 The people asked, and God brought quail; God filled them full with food from heaven.

41 God opened the rock and out gushed water— flowing like a river through the desert!

42 Because God remembered his holy promise to Abraham his servant,

43 God brought his people out with rejoicing, his chosen ones with songs of joy.

44 God gave them the lands of other nations; they inherited the wealth of many peoples—

45 all so that they would keep his laws and observe his instructions. 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb uncertain
• [b]. Correction; MT they put on them the words of God’s signs
• [c]. Correction; DSS (11QPs a) their land swarmed with frogs

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.