Psalms 105:42

42 For he was mindful of his holy word; which he had (said) to Abraham, his servant. (For he remembered his solemn promise; which he had made to his servant Abraham.)

Psalms 105:42 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 105:42

For he remembered his holy promise
It was not owing to the goodness of this people, to their obedience to the divine will, to any worthiness or merit of theirs, that such signs and wonders were wrought for them in Egypt; and that they were brought out from thence in such a manner as they were; and were protected and so plentifully provided for in the wilderness; but it was owing to the grace and goodness of God, to his covenant and promise, which he sacredly and inviolably observed; the grace and covenant of God are the source and spring of all blessings of goodness; he is ever mindful of his covenant, and therefore sends meat to them that fear him, as he did to the Israelites, ( Psalms 111:5 ) .

And Abraham his servant;
or the promise he made to Abraham his servant; so the Targum,

``which "was" with Abraham his servant;''

that is, which holy word or promise was with Abraham, was spoken to him; and was with him, that he would give him and his seed the land of Canaan; and that though they should be afflicted long in Egypt, yet should come out from thence with great substance, ( Genesis 15:13 Genesis 15:14 Genesis 15:18 ) , this he remembered, as he never forgets any promise of his, nor ever suffers his faithfulness to fail, nor his covenant to be broken. Hence it follows,

Psalms 105:42 In-Context

40 They asked, and a curlew came; and he [ful]filled them with the bread of heaven. (They asked for food, and the curlews came; and then he fulfilled them with bread, or manna, from heaven.)

41 He brake the stone, and waters flowed; floods went forth in the dry place. (He broke open a rock, and waters flowed out; yea, a river went forth there in the desert, or in the wilderness.)

42 For he was mindful of his holy word; which he had (said) to Abraham, his servant. (For he remembered his solemn promise; which he had made to his servant Abraham.)

43 And he led out his people in full out joying; and his chosen men in gladness. (And so he led out his people rejoicing; and his chosen in gladness.)

44 And he gave to them the countries of heathen men; and they had in possession the travails of (other) peoples. (And he gave them the countries of the heathen; and they had in possession what other peoples had toiled for, or had worked so hard for.)