Psalms 105

1 Give thanks to the LORD. Call on him. Make known among the nations what he has done.

2 Sing to him. Make music to praise him. Meditate on all the miracles he has performed.

3 Brag about his holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

4 Search for the LORD and his strength. Always seek his presence.

5 Remember the miracles he performed, the amazing things he did, and the judgments he pronounced,

6 you descendants of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7 He is the LORD our God. His judgments are pronounced throughout the earth.

8 He always remembers his promise, the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,

9 the promise that he made to Abraham, and his sworn oath to Isaac.

10 He confirmed it as a law for Jacob, as an everlasting promise to Israel,

11 by saying, "I will give you the land of Canaan. It is your share of the inheritance."

12 While the people of Israel were few in number, a small group of foreigners living in that land,

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

14 He didn't permit anyone to oppress them. He warned kings about them:

15 "Do not touch my anointed ones or harm my prophets."

16 He brought famine to the land. He took away their food supply.

17 He sent a man ahead of them. He sent Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

18 They hurt his feet with shackles, and cut into his neck with an iron collar.

19 The LORD's promise tested him through fiery trials until his prediction came true.

20 The king sent someone to release him. The ruler of nations set him free.

21 He made Joseph the master of his palace and the ruler of all his possessions.

22 Joseph trained the king's officers the way he wanted and taught his respected leaders wisdom.

23 Then Israel came to Egypt. Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.

24 The LORD made his people grow rapidly in number and stronger than their enemies.

25 He changed their minds so that they hated his people, and they dealt treacherously with his servants.

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

27 They displayed his miraculous signs among them and did amazing things in the land of Ham.

28 He sent darkness and made [their land] dark. They did not rebel against his orders.

29 He turned their water into blood and caused their fish to die.

30 He made their land swarm with frogs, even in the kings' bedrooms.

31 He spoke, and swarms of flies and gnats infested their whole territory.

32 He gave them hail and lightning instead of rain throughout their land.

33 He struck their grapevines and fig trees and smashed the trees in their territory.

34 He spoke, and countless locusts and grasshoppers came.

35 They devoured all the plants in the land. They devoured the crops in the fields.

36 He killed all the firstborn sons, the first ones born in the land when their fathers were young.

37 He brought Israel out with silver and gold, and no one among his tribes stumbled.

38 The Egyptians were terrified of Israel, so they were glad when Israel left.

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

40 The Israelites asked, and he brought them quail and filled them with bread from heaven.

41 He opened a rock, and water gushed and flowed like a river through the dry places.

42 He remembered his holy promise to his servant Abraham.

43 He brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with a song of joy.

44 He gave them the lands of [other] nations, and they inherited what others had worked for

45 so that they would obey his laws and follow his teachings. Hallelujah!

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.