Psalms 105

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;

19 Till the time when his word came true; he was tested by the word of the Lord.

20 The king sent men to take off his chains; even the ruler of the people, who let him go free.

21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler over everything he had;

22 To give his chiefs teaching at his pleasure, and so that his law-givers might get wisdom from him.

23 Then Israel came into Egypt, and Jacob was living in the land of Ham.

24 And his people were greatly increased, and became stronger than those who were against them.

25 Their hearts were turned to hate against his people, so that they made secret designs against them.

26 He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, the man of his selection.

27 He let his signs be seen among the people, and his wonders in the land of Ham.

28 He sent black night and made it dark; and they did not go against his word.

29 At his word their waters were turned to blood, and he sent death on all their fish.

30 Their land was full of frogs, even in the rooms of the king.

31 He gave the word, and there came the dog-fly, and insects over all the land.

32 He gave them ice for rain, and flaming fire in their land.

33 He gave their vines and their fig-trees to destruction, and the trees of their land were broken down.

34 At his word the locusts came, and young locusts more than might be numbered,

35 And put an end to all the plants of their land, taking all the fruit of the earth for food.

36 He put to death the first child of every family in the land, the first-fruits of their strength.

37 He took his people out with silver and gold: there was not one feeble person among them.

38 Egypt was glad when they went; for the fear of them had come down on them.

39 A cloud was stretched over them for a cover; and he sent fire to give light in the night.

40 At the people's request he sent birds, and gave them the bread of heaven for food.

41 His hand made the rock open, and the waters came streaming out; they went down through the dry places like a river.

42 For he kept in mind his holy word, and Abraham, his servant.

43 And he took his people out with joy, the men of his selection with glad cries:

44 And gave them the lands of the nations; and they took the work of the peoples for a heritage;

45 So that they might keep his orders, and be true to his laws. Give praise to the Lord.

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Psalms 105 Commentary

Chapter 105

A solemn call to praise and serve the Lord. (1-7) His gracious dealings with Israel. (8-23) Their deliverance from Egypt, and their settlement in Canaan. (24-45)

Verses 1-7 Our devotion is here stirred up, that we may stir up ourselves to praise God. Seek his strength; that is, his grace; the strength of his Spirit to work in us that which is good, which we cannot do but by strength derived from him, for which he will be sought. Seek to have his favour to eternity, therefore continue seeking it while living in this world; for he will not only be found, but he will reward those that diligently seek him.

Verses 8-23 Let us remember the Redeemer's marvellous works, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. Though true Christians are few number, strangers and pilgrims upon earth, yet a far better inheritance than Canaan is made sure to them by the covenant of God; and if we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, none can do us any harm. Afflictions are among our mercies. They prove our faith and love, they humble our pride, they wean us from the world, and quicken our prayers. Bread is the staff which supports life; when that staff is broken, the body fails and sinks to the earth. The word of God is the staff of spiritual life, the food and support of the soul: the sorest judgment is a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. Such a famine was sore in all lands when Christ appeared in the flesh; whose coming, and the blessed effect of it, are shadowed forth in the history of Joseph. At the appointed time Christ was exalted as Mediator; all the treasures of grace and salvation are at his disposal, perishing sinners come to him, and are relieved by him.

Verses 24-45 As the believer commonly thrives best in his soul when under the cross; so the church also flourishes most in true holiness, and increases in number, while under persecution. Yet instruments shall be raised up for their deliverance, and plagues may be expected by persecutors. And see the special care God took of his people in the wilderness. All the benefits bestowed on Israel as a nation, were shadows of spiritual blessings with which we are blessed in Christ Jesus. Having redeemed us with his blood, restored our souls to holiness, and set us at liberty from Satan's bondage, he guides and guards us all the way. He satisfies our souls with the bread of heaven, and the water of life from the Rock of salvation, and will bring us safely to heaven. He redeems his servants from all iniquity, and purifies them unto himself, to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Chapter Summary

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible