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.
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Call to Worship and Remembrance

1
O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. ​
2
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
4
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. ​
5
Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6
O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. ​

God Remembers His Covenant

7
He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. ​
8
He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. ​
9
Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10
And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
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Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: ​
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When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
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When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
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He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
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Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. ​

The Lord Prepares the Way through Joseph

16
Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread. ​
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He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: ​
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Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
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Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. ​
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The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
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He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
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To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
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Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
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And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
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He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants. ​

Signs and Wonders in Egypt

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He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen. ​
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They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
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He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word. ​
29
He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
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Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
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He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
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He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
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He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
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He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
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And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
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He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength. ​

Provision and Inheritance in the Land

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He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. ​
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Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
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He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. ​
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The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
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He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
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For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
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And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
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And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people; ​
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That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye 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').

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