Psalms 105:1-18

1 O give praise to the Lord; give honour to his name, talking of his doings among the peoples.

2 Let your voice be sounding in songs and melody; let all your thoughts be of the wonder of his works.

3 Have glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who are searching after the Lord be glad.

4 Let your search be for the Lord and for his strength; let your hearts ever be turned to him.

5 Keep in mind the great works which he has done; his wonders, and the decisions of his mouth;

6 O you seed of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his loved ones.

7 He is the Lord our God: he is judge of all the earth.

8 He has kept his agreement in mind for ever, the word which he gave for a thousand generations;

9 The agreement which he made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac;

10 And he gave it to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an eternal agreement;

11 Saying, To you will I give the land of Canaan, the measured line of your heritage:

12 When they were still small in number, and strange in the land;

13 When they went about from one nation to another, and from one kingdom to another people.

14 He would not let anyone do them wrong; he even kept back kings because of them,

15 Saying, Put not your hand on those who have been marked with my holy oil, and do my prophets no wrong.

16 And he took away all food from the land, so that the people were without bread.

17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was given as a servant for a price:

18 His feet were fixed in chains; his neck was put in iron bands;

Psalms 105:1-18 Meaning and Commentary

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.