Psalms105

Psalm 105 is a hymn of thanksgiving, recounting God's faithfulness to Israel from the patriarchs to the Exodus and entry into Canaan. It calls for praise, remembrance of His wondrous works, and glory in His holy name. The psalm highlights God's unwavering covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and His miraculous provision and protection for His chosen people. It concludes by stating that God's actions were to enable Israel to observe His statutes.

Call to Worship and Remembrance

1
Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples. ​
2
Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.
3
Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4
Seek the LORD and his strength. Seek his face forever more. ​
5
Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
6
you seed of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones. ​

God Remembers His Covenant

7
He is the LORD, our God. His judgments are in all the earth. ​
8
He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, ​
9
the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac,
10
and confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute; to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
11
saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance”; ​
12
when they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
13
They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
14
He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
15
“Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!” ​

The Lord Prepares the Way through Joseph

16
He called for a famine on the land. He destroyed the food supplies. ​
17
He sent a man before them. Joseph was sold for a slave. ​
18
They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons,
19
until the time that his word happened, and the LORD’s word proved him true. ​
20
The king sent and freed him; even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.
21
He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all of his possessions;
22
to discipline his princes at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom.
23
Israel also came into Egypt. Jacob lived in the land of Ham.
24
He increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their adversaries.
25
He turned their heart to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. ​

Signs and Wonders in Egypt

26
He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. ​
27
They performed miracles among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28
He sent darkness, and made it dark. They didn’t rebel against his words. ​
29
He turned their waters into blood, and killed their fish.
30
Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the rooms of their kings.
31
He spoke, and swarms of flies came, and lice in all their borders.
32
He gave them hail for rain, with lightning in their land.
33
He struck their vines and also their fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.
34
He spoke, and the locusts came, and the grasshoppers, without number,
35
ate up every plant in their land; and ate up the fruit of their ground.
36
He struck also all the firstborn in their land, the first fruits of all their manhood. ​

Provision and Inheritance in the Land

37
He brought them out with silver and gold. There was not one feeble person among his tribes. ​
38
Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them had fallen on them.
39
He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night. ​
40
They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of the sky.
41
He opened the rock, and waters gushed out. They ran as a river in the dry places.
42
For he remembered his holy word, and Abraham, his servant.
43
He brought his people out with joy, his chosen with singing.
44
He gave them the lands of the nations. They took the labor of the peoples in possession, ​
45
that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise the LORD! ​

Study Notes for Psalms 105

Verse 1

This psalm, likely composed for liturgical use, is a historical hymn calling the community to praise God by recounting His mighty acts on behalf of Israel. It emphasizes proclamation ('make known his deeds').

Verse 4

Seeking God's 'strength' and 'face' is a call to pursue His presence and power continually. This pursuit is rooted in remembering His past faithfulness (v. 5).

Verse 6

The Psalmist addresses the audience directly as the 'seed of Abraham' and 'children of Jacob,' identifying them as the legitimate heirs of the divine covenant promises.

Verse 7

Though Israel is the focus of the covenant, God’s sovereignty is universal; 'his judgments are in all the earth,' meaning His rule applies to all nations.

Verse 8

The covenant is described as eternal ('for ever,' 'a thousand generations'), underscoring God's unwavering commitment despite human failings, a contrast to the focus of the next psalm (Ps 106).

Verse 11

The core of the covenant promise is the land of Canaan, identified as the 'lot of your inheritance,' establishing God's legal and eternal claim over the territory for Israel.

Verse 15

God protected the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) even when they were few. 'Anointed' and 'prophets' describes the unique, holy status of God's chosen representatives who spoke His word.

Verse 16

The famine is presented as a divinely orchestrated event ('he called for a famine') demonstrating that even natural disasters serve God's ultimate redemptive plan.

Verse 17

The sending of Joseph ('He sent a man before them') highlights divine providence. Joseph's suffering was a necessary prelude to his elevation, allowing him to preserve his family.

Verse 19

Joseph remained in prison until the prediction and interpretation of dreams ('his word') were fulfilled, meaning God's promise was testing ('tried') his character and patience.

Verse 25

This verse emphasizes God's sovereignty over the hearts of men. He allowed or caused the Egyptians to hate Israel so that He could demonstrate His power through the subsequent deliverance.

Verse 26

Moses and Aaron are introduced as the chosen agents of God, sent to execute the divine judgments. Moses is titled 'servant' and Aaron 'chosen,' reflecting their specific roles.

Verse 28

The plague of darkness is recounted. The phrase 'they rebelled not against his word' most likely refers to Moses and Aaron, who obediently carried out the difficult command to bring total darkness onto Egypt (Exod 10:20-23).

Verse 36

The death of the firstborn was the climax of the plagues, demonstrating God’s ultimate authority over life and death and compelling Pharaoh to release Israel.

Verse 37

Israel departed enriched with 'silver and gold,' fulfilling the promise made to Abraham (Gen 15:14). The lack of 'feeble person' highlights God’s perfect care and protection during the oppression.

Verse 39

This verse summarizes the miraculous guidance provided by God in the wilderness: the cloud for covering/shade during the day, and the pillar of fire for light and warmth at night (Exod 13:21).

Verse 44

The Psalmist affirms the fulfillment of the land covenant (v. 11), emphasizing that Israel inherited the productive land and infrastructure ('labour of the people') of the previous inhabitants.

Verse 45

This final verse reveals the theological purpose of the entire historical narrative: God rescued and provided for Israel so that they might be a covenant people dedicated to obedience ('observe his statutes').

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options