Psalms 105

Psalms 105:1

Psalm 105: The Covenant with AbrahamIn His covenant with Abraham, God promised to his descendants the land from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates (Gen_15:18-21; Exo_23:31; Deu_1:7-8; Jos_1:4). It was an unconditional promise, a covenant of pure grace. Everything depended on God, nothing on man. This Psalm rehearses with great enthusiasm all that God did from the giving of the covenant to the time when He led the children of Israel into the promised land. The entire emphasis is on what God did. Nothing is said about Israel’s sins and backslidings, as in most of the historical Psalms. Actually Israel has never yet fully occupied all the territory that was promised. The closest she came to it was during the reign of Solomon. Although he ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the border of Egypt, the people of Judah and Israel dwelt in the land from Dan to Beersheba (1Ki_4:21-25). But when her Messiah returns in power and glory, Israel’s borders will then extend to include all the land which God deeded to Abraham. When that day arrives, believing Israel will sing this song with new spirit and understanding. Give Thanks and Praise (105:1-6)Many of the Psalms open on a low-key, then build up to a crescendo of worship. But this one begins with a veritable explosion of praise that catches up the reader in its eloquent appeal. Notice the variety of imperative verbs that are employed to encourage adoration: Oh give thanks to the LORD, Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, Sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name: Let the heart of those rejoice who seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, O seed of Abraham His servant, You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!His Covenant With Abraham (105:7-11)105:7, 8 The immediate cause of the psalmist’s exhilaration is the Abrahamic covenant (Gen_12:7; Gen_13:14-17; Gen_15:7, Gen_15:18-21; Gen_17:8; Gen_22:17-18; Exo_32:13). It was made by the LORD our God whose righteous acts are seen throughout the earth. He will never forget His promise, though its fulfillment is delayed a thousand generations. Whatever He promises is as certain as if it had already taken place. 105:9-11 The covenant was made originally with Abraham (Gen_12:1-20), later confirmed to Isaac (Gen_26:3-4), and then still later confirmed to Jacob (Gen_28:13-15). It was the word of God who cannot lie, guaranteeing the land of Canaan as the . . . inheritance of His earthly people. In the ensuing history of Israel, we see how God removed roadblocks and conquered enemies to bring His word to pass. The Nation’s Infancy (105:12-15)When they first came to Canaan from Mesopotamia, they were a handful of defenseless immigrants. Those early days were marked by considerable moving about, both within the land and in other countries (Gen_12:1-13; Gen_20:1-18; 28:1-29:35). But God protected them from danger and oppression, and rebuked rulers like Pharaoh (Gen_12:17-20) and Abimelech (Gen_20:1-18; Gen_26:6-11), saying, in effect, to these heathen kings, “Don’t you dare touch My chosen ones, or do My prophets any harmthese patriarchs to whom I have given direct revelations.” Joseph’s Rise to Power in Egypt (105:16-22)In the process of time, a severe famine descended on the land of Canaan. Bread supplies vanished; the main support of life was gone. It was God who summoned the famine and who destroyed all the provision of bread, but only in the sense that He permitted these things to happen. God never originates evil, but He does permit it at times and then overrules it for His glory and His people’s good. God’s man for the crisis was Joseph. Hated by his brothers, he was sold into Egypt as a slave.

There he was falsely accused by a seductive woman and thrown into prison (Gen_39:20). In verse 18, we have some otherwise unrecorded details concerning his imprisonment: “They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in iron.” During his two years in jail, the word of the LORD tested his skill in interpreting dreams and predicting the future. Finally his ability was brought to Pharaoh’s attention and he not only released him, but promoted him to second in command. He had authority to bind Egyptian princes, if necessary, and wisdom to instruct men who were much older than himself. Migration of Jacob and Family (105:23-25)Eventually Joseph’s family moved into Egypt, and over the years they became numerous, prosperous and strong militarily. But in the providence of God, the Egyptians were allowed to become rabidly anti-semitic and to oppress and cheat the Jews. Moses and the Plagues in Egypt (105:26-36)105:26, 27 This time God raised up Moses and his lieutenant, Aaron, to stand before Pharaoh and demand the release of His enslaved people. Their demands were punctuated with a series of plagues designed to break down the monarch’s resistance. Here the plagues are itemized, not in chronological order, and with two unmentionedthe fifth and the sixth. 105:28 God sent darkness over all the land (Plague 9). The psalmist adds the puzzling comment, “And they did not rebel against His word.” Because of the obvious difficulty, the RSV translators changed it to read, “they rebelled against His words,” but they had no manuscript authority to make this change. Barnes explains it as meaning that Moses and Aaron did not rebel against the Lord’s words, but did as He commanded them. Or it may mean that the darkness was so oppressive that the Egyptians were powerless to resist it. 105:29-31 God turned their waters into blood and wiped out the supply of fish (Plague 1). It was pollution of the worst kind. The next mentioned was the plague of frogs (Plague 2). There were frogs everywherefrogs in the ovens and frogs in the beds. Not even the royal suite was proof against these leaping, croaking, slimy creatures! One word from the Lord and the land was ruined by swarms of flies (Plague 4) and by clouds of pesky gnats or lice (Plague 3). 105:32-36 Instead of rain, He sent destructive hail and lightning (Plague 7). As great balls of fire careened across the landscape, the vines, the fig trees and other trees were shattered. This plague brought injury and death to men as well (Exo_9:25). Then came the locusts, like an invading army, consuming all the vegetation as they advanced, and leaving a wasteland behind (Plague 8). When none of these plagues succeeded, God destroyed all the firstborn of the Egyptians, both of man and beast (Plague 10). That was a night to be rememberedwhen the pride of every Egyptian home was slain. The Exodus (105:37, 38)The Jews left Egypt with more silver and gold than they had when they arrived; the Egyptians were glad to give them anything they wanted just to get rid of them (Exo_12:33-36). And in spite of the havoc the plagues had wrought on the Egyptians, the Israelites were unaffected. They were all in good condition for travel. Not one staggered or fell behind. It was a great relief for the Egyptians when they departed; they had developed a deep-seated dread of them. Wilderness Journey (105:39-42)God’s provision for His people in the wilderness was fantastic. A cloud not only kept them on course (Exo_13:21) but served as a sort of smoke screen to hide them from the enemy (Exo_14:19-20). It became a pillar of fire at night to provide illumination for travel. When they wanted food, He gave them the bestquails in great abundance and manna, that wonder bread from heaven. They needed water, so He split the rock, and water gushed out. After they had used all they wanted, there was still enough to make a river in the desert.

Why all this painstaking provision by Jehovah? Because He could not forget the holy promise which He had made to Abraham His servant.In the Land at Last (105:43-45)It was a great deliverance, accompanied by indescribable joy and singing. Jehovah brought them into the land of Canaan and dispossessed the Gentiles who were living there. Everything was ready made for them; they reaped the labor of the nations. And of course the divine objective was that they might obey Him and keep His laws. Actually their tenure of the land was conditional on their obedience (Lev_26:27-33; Deu_28:63-68; Deu_30:19-20). The last verse of the Psalm forms the intended climax. This was what God had been working toward all the time. And it is true for us as well. God claimed us for His people in order that we might be living in that last verse: That they might observe His statutes, and keep His laws. Praise the LORD!