Bible Commentaries
Psalms 105

Verses 1-5

Psa 105:1-5

PRAISING GOD FOR WHAT HE DID FOR ISRAEL

We have been unable to find any authentic information about either the author or occasion of this psalm. After an introduction in the first five verses, the psalm mentions with thanksgiving and gratitude the covenant with Abraham; Isaac and Jacob (Psalms 105:6-12); God’s guidance of Israel into Egypt and out (Psalms 105:13-23); His goodness to them during times of oppression (Psalms 105:24-25); God’s deliverance of them from Egypt by Moses and Aaron (Psalms 105:26-38); His mercies in the wilderness (Psalms 105:39-41); and finally His gift of the land of Canaan (Psalms 105:42-45).

The psalm thus becomes a somewhat chronological survey of the history of Israel’s progress from the days of the patriarchs to the Promised Land. Surprisingly, there is no mention either of the Red Sea Crossing, or that of the Jordan. Also, there is no hint whatever of the many rebellions of the chosen people in the wilderness.

Here and them, there are bits of information which are supplementary to the account in the Pentateuch. This, it seems, is characteristic of inspired writings.

Another fact regarding this psalm is that the first fifteen verses of it appear almost verbatim in 1 Chronicles 16:8-22. Leupold wrote, "This psalm appears to be the original.” This could be true, only if an early date is accepted for the psalm.

"This is the second of the four great songs of Israel’s history, the others being Psalms 78; Psalms 106; and Psalms 136.”

Psalms 105:1-5

INTRODUCTION

"O give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name;

Make known among the peoples his doings,

Sing unto him, sing praises unto him;

Talk ye of all his marvelous works.

Glory ye in his holy name:

Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah.

Seek ye Jehovah and his strength;

Seek his face evermore.

Remember his marvelous works that he hath done,

His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth."

"Make known among the peoples his doings" (Psalms 105:1). This is a commandment for the people of Israel to tell among the Gentiles the wonderful deeds of the Lord.

Without any doubt, the most astounding events in human history are those clustered around the choice of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by none less than God Himself. The miracles of the most monumental character attended the development of the Chosen People and God’s displacing the nations of Canaan, re-populating it with Israel. Why this heavenly `partiality,’ if we may call it that, to the Jews?

In the purpose of God this elevation of Abraham’s posterity to a "preferred status" in God’s sight was absolutely necessary.

When the entire Adamic race became so corrupt that God destroyed them in the Great Deluge, the human family had another beginning in the family of Noah; but when it soon became evident that the race of mankind was again on the road to total departure from God, Abraham and his descendants were selected for the purpose of preserving the knowledge of God on earth until the First Advent of Christ. Thus, Abraham was not chosen merely for his own sake, but for the sake of all mankind. Moreover, it was the particular ability of Abraham to command his children after him that entered into God’s choice (Genesis 18:19). The redeemed of all ages, therefore, may thank God for the ability of Abraham. In God’s first announcement of the choice of Abraham, he made it clear that "all the families of the earth" were included in God’s purpose of salvation (Genesis 12:3).

"Remember his marvelous works, his wonders, and the judgments" (Psalms 105:5). This is the theme of the psalm. It is customary to break a psalm like this up into paragraphs; but as Rawlinson noted, "Such divisions here could be made only arbitrary, because there are no really marked divisions.”

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:1. This verse has two separate thoughts. Man should thank God for his favors, then show his appreciation for such deeds of benefit by making them known among the people. Jesus taught the same lesson in Matthew 5:16. But in that case the matters were to be made known before the world by the lives of those benefited by the favors.

Psalms 105:2. The singing and talking that David called for was not to be mere words. There was a subject that, was to be the basis for all the expressions and that was the wondrous works of God, manifested for the benefit of the creatures of His care.

Psalms 105:3. Another instance is seen in this verse where the motive was to be the background of the action. A desire to glory in the name of God was urging the persons to seek the Lord. When such was the motive for the action, the Psalmist wished for them a heart filled with sincere rejoicing.

Psalms 105:4. This means to seek the strength that comes from the Lord. No man can actually see the face of God and live (Exodus 33:20), but the word is used in the sense of favor. Seek to be in favor with God by doing that which will please him.

Psalms 105:5. The wonderful doings of God are not confined to the acts of material creation. His judgments also are marvelous, which means his dealings with the conduct of human beings. When the Lord passes judgment upon the activities of man, whether favorable or unfavorable, they are marvelous in wisdom and fairness.

Verse 6

Psa 105:6

Psalms 105:6

"O ye seed of Abraham his servant,

Ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones."

This verse identifies the chosen people as the persons addressed.

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:6. The seed of Abraham and the children of Jacob refer to the same people. When God called upon Abraham to leave his native land he obeyed and received the title of servant. When Jacob begat the 12 sons and they became numerous enough to compose a nation, then God chose them to become a nation as his peculiar possession.

Verses 7-10

Psa 105:7-10

Psalms 105:7-10

"He is Jehovah our God;

His judgments are in all the earth.

He hath remembered his covenant forever,

The word which he commanded to a thousand generations,

The covenant which he made with Abraham,

And his oath to Isaac,

And confirmed the same unto Jacob as a statute,

To Israel for an everlasting covenant."

These verses begin the list of God’s wonderful works on behalf of Israel by citing the blessed covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the patriarchs of the Chosen People. It is not our purpose here to comment upon all the circumstances of the events mentioned in this historical summary. We have written detailed commentaries on the entire Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua; and anyone desiring to explore any of the things here mentioned will find our full comments under the verses cited in connection with each event. Regarding the covenant here mentioned, Genesis (Genesis 15; Genesis 21; Genesis 27) provides the details.

"The covenant" (Psalms 105:8-9). "God was in covenant with Israel from the time of the forefathers, and that covenant was essentially a promise.”

"And confirmed the same as a statute" (Psalms 105:10). "That covenant was not only a promise, but a law.”

"To Israel for an everlasting covenant" (Psalms 105:10). There is no limitation upon the duration of God’s covenant with Israel. It is still in effect. Although the fleshly, or racial, Israel defected from the covenant, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the New Israel, the True Vine, the Good Shepherd, now lives forever at the right hand of God; and "in Christ" all of the ancient covenant with Abraham is still valid. "If ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29).

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:7. See the comments at Psalms 86:12 for explanation of Lord and God. Judgments are the verdicts or decisions of God, and they affect the conduct of all mankind.

Psalms 105:8. God never forgets as we commonly use that word. The statement here means that he had respect unto his covenant and always kept his word with the children of men. We might inquire why speak of "keeping" a word that He had commanded? It is because the promises of God were made on condition of obedience to the commandments.

Psalms 105:9-10. These verses should be grouped into one paragraph because of the unity of thought. When fairly considered, the passage throws much light on the subject of the length of the sojourn in Egypt. For detailed discussion of the matter see my comments at 1 Chronicles 16:16-17.

Verses 11-15

Psa 105:11-15

Psalms 105:11-15

"Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan,

The lot of your inheritance;

When they were but a few men in number,

Yea, very few, and sojourning in it.

And they went about from nation to nation.

From one kingdom to another people.

He suffered no man to do them wrong;

Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

Saying, Touch not mine anointed ones,

And do my prophets no harm."

These verses conclude the portion of the psalm which is given in 1Chronicles.

"I will give thee the land of Canaan" (Psalms 105:11). This promise to the patriarchs was indeed a marvel. They were at the time of the promise merely a handful of men; and there were seven mighty nations in Canaan. That God actually made this promise is proved by the fact of the Patriarchs’ believing it and purchasing the Cave of Machpelah in Canaan as the family burial place (Genesis 23).

For long generations, this promise was a matter of faith. The patriarchs were landless; they were but a handful of people; they wandered about from nation to nation; "But God was at work protecting and blessing his people, looking to the ultimate fulfilment of the promise.”

"From nation to nation" (Psalms 105:13). "Abraham was in Egypt awhile, and Isaac was in Gerar” (Genesis 12; Genesis 20; Genesis 26). Also Jacob was at Manahaim (Genesis 32), Shechem (Genesis 33), Bethel (Genesis 35), Ephraph (Genesis 35:16) and Egypt (Genesis 45-46).

"He reproved kings for their sakes" (Psalms 105:14). Those kings were Pharaoh (Genesis 12:17) and Abimelech (Genesis 10:7).

"Touch not mine anointed ones ... do my prophets no harm" (Psalms 105:15). "These words do not appear in Genesis, but they accurately express the lesson which the events taught.”

"Anointed ones" is a reference to the patriarchs as God’s special servants, although there is no record of their being anointed. Abraham is called a prophet in Genesis 20:7.

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:11. Since Abraham was the first one called, he was the one to whom the promise was made as to the possession of the land. The pronoun your is directly addressed by David to the people of his day. He is telling them that the land of Canaan is theirs by lot by right of inheritance, since they were descended from Abraham.

Psalms 105:12. In the beginning of their living in Canaan they were few in number. Even as late as the time of Jacob and they were about to enter the country of Egypt, they numbered only 70 souls according to the account in Genesis 46:27.

Psalms 105:13-15. This paragraph is a reference to some facts that are clearly set out in the following passages: Genesis 12:11-20; Genesis 20:1-16; Genesis 26:6-11.

Verses 16-19

Psa 105:16-19

Psalms 105:16-19

"And he called for a famine upon the land;

He brake the whole staff of bread.

He sent a man before them;

Joseph was sold for a servant:

His feet they hurt with fetters:

He was laid in chains of iron,

Until the time his word came to pass,

The word of Jehovah tried him."

"He called for a famine" (Psalms 105:16). God’s plan was to send all of Israel into Egyptian slavery, as he had prophesied through Abraham (Genesis 15); and the famine fitted into that purpose.

"He sent a man before them" (Psalms 105:17). The sale of Joseph by his brothers, somewhat earlier than the famine, was also part of God’s plan, another instance of, "the wrath of man praising God."

"Feet hurt with fetters" (Psalms 105:18). This is a detail not found in Genesis; but the truth of it cannot be doubted.

"He was laid in chains of iron" (Psalms 105:18). An alternative reading is, "The iron entered into his soul." The RSV renders this, "His neck was put in a collar of iron."

"The word of Jehovah tried him" (Psalms 105:19). Dean Johnson believed that the implied promise to Joseph of preeminence above his brothers in those dreams which led to their hatred of him (Genesis 37) seemed utterly impossible of fulfilment during Joseph’s imprisonment; and that, "This bitter contrast with what Joseph had expected is what tried or tested Joseph." The opinion of this writer is that it was the temptation from the wife of Potiphar which was at least one of the ways in which the word of Jehovah tried him. It might have been both and also have included other tests.

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:16. Called for a famine shows that the famine in Egypt was a miraculous one. There could not be a natural famine in that country because the annual overflow of the Nile insured the moisture needed for the crops. That was why a mirculous famine had to be called for when the Lord had use for one in his plans.

Psalms 105:17. The simple facts of the history are recorded in the book of Genesis and would not need to be repeated in all of their details. However, some observations may profitably be made. Sent a MAN is significant as a contrast with the divine agency of the famine. God wished to employ a human agency in conjunction with His own work.

Psalms 105:18. The original history of this verse is in Genesis 39:20; Genesis 40:3. Those passages indicate that these fetters of iron were not allowed to remain on Joseph. He was given charge of the other prisoners which could scarcely be of any avail if he Were hampered with the metallic shackles.

Psalms 105:19. His word came refers to the interpreting of Pharaoh’s dream. When he was wanted for that purpose he was released from prison and never went back to it. The last clause of the verse means that it was in accordance with the word of the Lord for Joseph’s faith to be tested. That test went with him through those years that had been forgotten by the butler. (Genesis 40, 41.)

Verses 20-22

Psa 105:20-22

Psalms 105:20-22

"The king sent and loosed him;

Even the ruler of peoples,

And let him go free.

He made him lord of his house,

And ruler of his substance;

To bind his princes at his pleasure,

And teach his elders wisdom."

These verses report the elevation of Joseph to a position of authority in Egypt second only to that of Pharaoh himself. Genesis 41 has the Genesis account of this.

"To bind his princes at his pleasure" (Psalms 105:22). This is not mentioned in Genesis; but given Joseph’s great authority in Egypt, the truth of it cannot be questioned.

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:20. This was King Pharaoh who had some dreams that troubled him. Having been informed of Joseph’s former work of interpreting dreams, the king sent for him that he might obtain a like service. That plan would make it necessary to remove the prison sentence from Joseph hence the verse says he let him go free.

Psalms 105:21. Joseph was given the management of the crops for distribution among the people during the famine predicted by the dreams of Pharaoh.

Psalms 105:22. Bind his princes does not refer to any literal bonds that Joseph was to fasten on Pharaoh’s princes for he never did anything of that kind. It means that Joseph was given authority over the people of Egypt. "Only in the throne will I be greater than thou" (Genesis 41:40), was the sense in which Joseph was to bind the princes.

Verses 23-25

Psa 105:23-25

Psalms 105:23-25

"Israel also came into Egypt;

And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

And he increased his people greatly,

And made them stronger than their adversaries.

He turned their heart to hate his people,

To deal subtly with his servants."

This is a thumb-nail history of four hundred years! God had told Abraham on that dreadful night of the covenant when the smoking lamp went between the carcasses what would happen to his posterity.

"Abram, know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. That nation whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance (Genesis 15:13-14).

"Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham" (Psalms 105:23). "Egypt is here called the land of Ham, because in the table of nations (Genesis 10) Egypt is listed as one of the sons of Ham.”

"God made them stronger than their adversaries" (Psalms 105:24). It is surprising to us that a scholar such as Leupold would question the truth of this. He wrote, "This can scarcely be intended to be understood in the most literal sense." Indeed! And why not? "The king over Egypt said ... Behold the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come let us deal wisely with them, etc." (Exodus 1:7).

"God turned their heart to hate his people" (Psalms 105:25). "Through his great blessings upon the Israelites, God caused the Egyptians to hate them.” This came about through their envy, jealousy and fear of the astounding growth of Israel.

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:23. Israel and Jacob are the same, the two names being used to make the identification easier. Land of Ham was Egypt according to Psalms 78:51. That was because the inferior nations came from Ham (Genesis 9:25; Genesis 10:6-7), and the Egyptians were of the lower grade of nations when compared with descendents of Shem and Japheth.

Psalms 105:24. The history of this verse is in Exodus 1:7. The Israelites increased in spite of, not by the help of, the Egyptians.

Psalms 105:25. He (God) turned their (the Egyptians’) heart to hate his (God’s) people. This hatred was prompted by envy and fear. They could not bear to see the Israelites so prosperous; also they feared they might become strong enough to rise up in rebellion. Dealt subtilly means they were treacherous and dishonest in their treatment of Israel.

Verses 26-36

Psa 105:26-36

Psalms 105:26-36

ISRAEL DELIVERED FROM EGYPT

"He sent Moses his servant,

And Aaron whom he had chosen.

They set among them his signs,

And wonders in the land of Ham.

He sent darkness and made it dark;

And they rebelled not against his words.

He turned their waters into blood,

And slew their fish.

Their land swarmed with frogs

In the chambers of their kings.

He spake, and there came swarms of flies,

And lice in all their borders.

He gave them hail for rain,

And flaming fire in their land.

He smote their vines also, and their fig-trees,

And brake the trees of their borders.

He spake, and the locust came,

And the grasshopper, and that without number,

And did eat up every herb in the land,

And did eat up the fruit of the ground.

He smote also all the first-born in their land,

The chief of all their strength."

First there is mentioned here the commission of Moses and Aaron for the purposes of the Exodus (Exodus 2-7).

Next, we find the account of the plagues which God visited upon Egypt as the time drew near for His deliverance of Israel from bondage. There were ten of these visitations, but only eight are mentioned in this psalm. "The sequence followed in the psalm Isaiah 9,1, 2,4, 3, -, -, 7,8, and 10.” Note that 9 (the darkness) is mentioned first, 5,6 are omitted; and 4,3 change places.

The Genesis sequence is as follows:

Changing water into blood (Exodus 7:20)

The plague of frogs (Exodus 8:6)

The plague of lice (Exodus 8:17)

The plague of flies (Exodus 8:24)

The murrain of cattle (Exodus 9:6)

Plague of boils and blains (Exodus 9:10)

The plague of hail (Exodus 9:22)

The plague of locusts ((Exodus 10:13)

The plague of darkness (Exodus 10:22)

The death of the first-born (Exodus 12:29

"And they rebelled not against his words" (Psalms 105:28). This is a very difficult verse. Certainly it cannot apply to the Egyptians; and the application of it to Moses and Aaron seems contraindicated; so what do we make of it? Frankly, we do not know. "If the `not’ in this passage is to stand, it must apply to Moses and Aaron; Professor Cheyne, however, following the Septuagint (LXX) boldly cancels the `not’.”

"He smote their vines and their fig-trees" (Psalms 105:33). "The skeptical objection that there were no vines in Egypt has long ago been given up.”

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:26. Moses was sent to be the leader for the people in their escape from the land of Egypt. Aaron was sent to work with Moses and to be his spokesman.

Psalms 105:27. They means Moses and Aaron. They worked together in performing the miracles that were to convince the Israelites first, then to bring about their enforced freedom.

Psalms 105:28. Rebelled not is rendered "would not heed" in Moffatt’s translation, and the context justifies that wording. We know the Egyptians would not submit to God’s demands even at the plague of darkness.

Psalms 105:29. This verse refers to one of the plagues sent on the Egyptians when they refused to let the children of Israel go. The history of it is in Exodus 7:17-21.

Psalms 105:30. This was the 2nd plague upon Pharaoh and his people. See Exodus 8:5-7 for the original account to which this verse applies.

Psalms 105:31. Since all of this history is so completely given in the book of Exodus, the query might arise why the Psalmist took up so much space repeating it. No specific statement can be cited in the Bible as an answer. We know, however, that many hundreds of years had gone by since those things occurred. In repeating them in such detail, David showed not only that the account of the transactions in Egypt was preserved down to his time, but that he believed it to be true, and that the Lord was worthy to be praised for the great work. The original account of this verse is in Exodus 8.

Psalms 105:32. This was a regular thunderstorm with lightning. The marvelous phase of the case was the fact that it came at a specified time, and in Egypt where even an ordinary rain would have been regarded as wonderful.

Psalms 105:33. Brake the trees means the foliage and fruit was stripped off the trees, not the body of the tree being broken down. In Exodus 9:25 the trees were said to be broken, but in Ch. 10 :15 of that book it says that the locusts ate the fruit of the trees "which the hail had left."

Psalms 105:34-35. This paragraph is practically explained in the preceding one.

Psalms 105:36. The firstborn of the Egyptians were the ones smitten. This distinction is made to prevent confusion over the pronouns later on in the chapter.

Verses 37-38

Psa 105:37-38

Psalms 105:37-38

ISRAEL LEAVES EGYPT; EGYPT GLAD OF IT

"And he brought them forth with silver and gold;

And there was not one feeble person among his tribes.

Egypt was glad when they departed;

For the fear of them had fallen upon them."

"He brought them forth with silver and gold" (Psalms 105:37). See Exodus 12:35 for the Pentateuchal record of this. Also see Genesis 15:14 for God’s promise of that very thing.

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:37. The pronouns in this verse refer to the children of Israel. The silver and gold was given them by the Egyptians, and the account is in Exodus 11:2-3; Exodus 12:35-36.

Psalms 105:38. Egypt was glad when they departed. This clause will be better understood and appreciated if the student will read Exodus 12:31-33 and the entire connection. The readiness of Pharaoh to let the Israelites go was not from conviction that he was wrong and they were right. It was purely a selfish move on his part and was prompted by his desire to get rid of a troublous element that he could not manage.

Verses 39-41

Psa 105:39-41

Psalms 105:39-41

THREE WONDERS IN THE WILDERNESS

"He spread a cloud for a covering,

And fire to give light in the night.

They asked, and he brought quails,

And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

He opened the rock, and waters gushed out;

They ran in the dry places like a river."

There were many wonders during the wilderness period, but only these are cited here: (1) The pillar of cloud and of fire by day and by night is recorded in Exodus 13:21-22. (2) The miraculous food of quails and the manna are featured in Exodus 16. (3) The water from the rock appears in Exodus 17.

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:39. The account now passes from the original encampment of the Israelites and is describing some scenes in the march. The description of this unusual cloud is in Exodus 13:21-22; Exodus 14:19; Exodus 14:24, which I request the student to read again.

Psalms 105:40 The scene changes again, and the children of Israel are across the Red Sea and journeying in the wilderness. Their tendency toward murmuring was evident very often. They complained that they lacked food and God gave it to them by miracle. The history of this verse is in Exodus 16 where the reader may see the goodness of God.

Psalms 105:41. The next complaint was because of a shortage of water to drink. In Exodus 17 is an account of the provision which the Lord made for them on this subject.

Verses 42-44

Psa 105:42-44

Psalms 105:42-44

ISRAEL ENTERS THE LAND OF CANAAN

"For he remembered his holy word,

And Abraham his servant.

And he brought forth his people with joy,

And his chosen with singing.

And he gave them the lands of the nations;

And they took the labors of the peoples in possession."

The previous three verses were a summary of the forty-years in the wilderness; and these three verses condense the entire history of the Conquest of Canaan under Joshua into these few lines. The whole Book of Joshua is devoted to the record of what is here stated so briefly.

In context, the psalmist is here declaring, simply, that God who had promised to deliver the land of Canaan to the patriarchs actually did so, the four centuries intervening notwithstanding.

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:42-45. These closing verses of the chapter are in the nature of a general summing up, hence I have grouped them into one paragraph. The Lord remembered means he had respect for the promise he had made to Abraham. That promise included all of the good things already done for the Israelites, as have been detailed in this chapter, and also the ones to come as indicated in this paragraph.

Verse 45

Psa 105:45

Psalms 105:45

WHY GOD DID IT

"That they might keep his statutes,

And observe his laws.

Praise ye Jehovah."

Why did God cast out the nations of Canaan and repopulate the land with Israel? Simply that his laws might be honored and observed in that land. This was the part of the glorious covenant that Israel, except for a small righteous remnant, did not generally honor. In time, the nation became even worse than the peoples whom God had driven out before them; and it was for that reason, that racial Israel, just like the wicked nations expelled before them, was also cast out of the land of Canaan, exactly as Moses had warned them before they entered it. "And ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest in to possess it" (Deuteronomy 28:63).

E.M. Zerr:

Psalms 105:42-45. These closing verses of the chapter are in the nature of a general summing up, hence I have grouped them into one paragraph. The Lord remembered means he had respect for the promise he had made to Abraham. That promise included all of the good things already done for the Israelites, as have been detailed in this chapter, and also the ones to come as indicated in this paragraph.