Psalms105
New Living Translation
1 Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
3 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
4 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
5 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
6 you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7 He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.
8 He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
9 This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
11 “I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.”
12 He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
13 They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
14 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:
15 “Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.”
16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply.
17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
22 He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers.
23 Then Israel arrived in Egypt; Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies.
25 Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord’s servants.
26 But the Lord sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go.
29 He turned their water into blood, poisoning all the fish.
30 Then frogs overran the land and even invaded the king’s bedrooms.
31 When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians, and gnats swarmed across Egypt.
32 He sent them hail instead of rain, and lightning flashed over the land.
33 He ruined their grapevines and fig trees and shattered all the trees.
34 He spoke, and hordes of locusts came— young locusts beyond number.
35 They ate up everything green in the land, destroying all the crops in their fields.
36 Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home, the pride and joy of each family.
37 The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly.
39 The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness.
40 They asked for meat, and he sent them quail; he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven.
41 He split open a rock, and water gushed out to form a river through the dry wasteland.
42 For he remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham.
43 So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing.
44 He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted.
45 All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions. Praise the Lord!
People in this chapter — 8
All people →Study
Psalms 105Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 105. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-7
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.
vv8-23
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.
vv24-45
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.
Key Words
יָדָה: physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands)
קָרָא: to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
יָדַע: to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
עֲלִילָה: an exploit (of God), or a performance (of man, often in a bad sense); by implication, an opportunity
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
שִׁיר: to sing
זָמַר: play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music
שִׂיחַ: to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence, aloud) or (transitively) utter
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Psalms 105Verbatim parallel; this entire opening section of the psalm matches David's thanksgiving song in 1 Chronicles.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbatim echo of Jacob's own words describing his household as being 'few in number'.
Supported by JFB
Direct verbal link where Abimelech uses the specific phrase 'toucheth' regarding God's chosen patriarch.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The explicit legal and prophetic metaphor of breaking the 'staff of bread' to signify severe famine.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical account of the plague of thick darkness sent upon Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Equates God's 'strength' in the sanctuary with the Ark of the Covenant, as referenced here.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Zechariah celebrates God remembering His holy covenant and oath to Abraham in Christ's coming.
Supported by John Calvin
The renewal and confirmation of the land-grant covenant to Jacob at Bethel.
Supported by JFB
Historical event where God plagued Pharaoh's house to reprove him for Abraham's wife.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical account of God warning and reproving King Abimelech in a dream for Sarah's sake.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfillment of Joseph's elevation from prison to become ruler of Pharaoh's house and substance.
Supported by JFB
Fulfillment of God bringing Israel out of Egypt loaded with jewels of silver and gold.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The actual historical provision of the pillar of cloud and fire to guide Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical event of God standing on the rock at Horeb and bringing water out.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The prophetic warning to Abraham that his offspring would be few and strangers in a foreign land.
Supported by John Calvin