# Overview Psalm 105 is a powerful hymn that calls the people of #Israel to remember and give thanks for the wondrous works of #God. The psalm begins with a call to worship, urging the faithful to "give thanks to the Lord," "call upon his name," and "make known his deeds among the peoples." The psalmist invites the audience to sing praises, seek the Lord's presence continually, and remember the marvels He has performed. This opening section frames the entire chapter as a celebration and acknowledgment of God's enduring faithfulness and covenant with His people. The psalm underscores the importance of recounting God's acts as a means to strengthen faith and encourage trust in His promises. The bulk of Psalm 105 recounts the history of Israel, highlighting key events such as God's covenant with #Abraham, the journey of #Joseph, the miraculous exodus from #Egypt, and the provision in the wilderness. It recounts how God remembered His holy promise to Abraham and delivered His people with signs and wonders. The psalmist emphasizes God's sovereignty and providence, illustrating how He orchestrated events for the fulfillment of His covenant, demonstrating His unchanging faithfulness. The chapter concludes by affirming that God's statutes and laws were given to Israel, reminding them of their special status as His chosen people and their responsibility to obey His commandments. This psalm serves as a narrative of God's salvific acts and a reminder of His steadfast love and faithfulness throughout generations. ## Theological Insights Psalm 105 is a profound call to remember and celebrate the faithfulness of #God throughout the history of #Israel. This psalm serves as a historical recounting, highlighting God’s covenantal relationship with His people and His mighty acts of deliverance. 1. **Covenantal Faithfulness**: Psalm 105 opens with a call to give thanks and make known God's deeds among the nations (verses 1-5). This reflects the theme of God's covenant with #Abraham, #Isaac, and #Jacob, which is reiterated in verses 8-11. The emphasis is on God's eternal covenant, promising the land of #Canaan to the descendants of #Abraham. This is a fulfillment of the covenant promises found in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 15]], and [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 17]]. 2. **God’s Sovereignty and Power**: The psalm highlights God's sovereign power in guiding and protecting His people. Verses 12-15 remind the reader of God’s protection over the patriarchs when they were few in number, illustrating His control over nations and kings for the sake of His chosen ones. This protection is echoed in the narrative of the patriarchs in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 20|Genesis 20]] and [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 26|Genesis 26]]. 3. **The Exodus and God's Miracles**: A significant portion of Psalm 105 (verses 23-38) is dedicated to recounting the miraculous deliverance of #Israel from #Egypt through the plagues, emphasizing God’s power over creation and His judgment against false gods. This section parallels the detailed account found in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 7]] through [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12]]. 4. **Provision and Guidance**: The psalm also recalls God's provision for Israel in the wilderness, such as the gift of #manna and #quail (verses 39-41), which is a reminder of God’s sustaining grace described in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 16]] and [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 11]]. 5. **The Promised Land**: Finally, the psalm culminates in the fulfillment of God's promise as He gives them the lands of the nations (verses 44-45). This reflects the conquest and settlement in Canaan as described in [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 1]] through [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 24]], showing God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Overall, Psalm 105 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unchanging faithfulness and the importance of remembering His deeds. It calls the faithful to trust in God's promises and to live in obedience, as highlighted in the concluding verse, where the observance of His laws is linked to the enjoyment of His blessings. This theme of remembrance and gratitude is central to the worship and identity of God's people throughout the scriptures. ## Thematic Connections ### Covenant Faithfulness Psalm 105 highlights the theme of #covenant faithfulness, emphasizing God's unwavering commitment to His promises. This theme is rooted in the covenant made with #Abraham, as seen in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12|Genesis 12]], where God promises to make Abraham a great nation. The psalm recounts this promise being remembered through generations, specifically mentioning #Isaac and #Jacob, tying back to [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 26|Genesis 26]] and [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28|Genesis 28]]. This ongoing covenant is a testament to God's enduring faithfulness to His people. ### Remembrance of God's Deeds The psalmist calls upon the people to remember God's wondrous works and His judgments. This theme of remembrance is echoed throughout the #OldTestament, where God's mighty acts, such as the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision in the wilderness, are recounted as reminders of His power and faithfulness. These events are also detailed in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 7|Exodus 7]], [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 14|Exodus 14]], and [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 16|Exodus 16]]. ### Divine Sovereignty and Protection Psalm 105 underscores God's sovereignty over creation and history, as He directs the course of events for His people's benefit. The narrative of #Joseph, mentioned in this psalm, showcases God's providential hand guiding Joseph from slavery to a position of power in Egypt, as seen in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 37|Genesis 37]] and [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 41|Genesis 41]]. This theme of divine protection is a recurring motif, illustrating God's ability to bring good out of adverse circumstances. ### Praise and Worship The psalm opens with a call to give thanks to the Lord, declare His deeds, and sing praises to Him. This theme of praise is central to the #Psalms and is a reminder for believers to continually worship God for His greatness and mercy. Similar exhortations can be found in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 100|Psalm 100]], which calls for joyful worship, and [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 150|Psalm 150]], which concludes the Psalter with a powerful crescendo of praise. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Covenant with #Abraham Psalm 105 celebrates #God's covenant with #Abraham, highlighting the fulfillment of His promises throughout the generations. This chapter reflects on the promise God made to Abraham to give his descendants the land of #Canaan, as stated in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 15|Genesis 15:18-21]]. The psalm recounts how God remained faithful to this promise, despite various challenges faced by the Israelites. The covenant with Abraham, reiterated through his descendants, serves as a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and His divine plan to bless all nations through Abraham's seed, ultimately fulfilled in [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] Christ, as seen in [[Galatians/Galatians Chapter 3|Galatians 3:16]]. ### The Protection and Guidance of #Joseph The psalm recounts the story of #Joseph, whose life serves as a prophetic illustration of God's sovereign plan. Sold into slavery, Joseph's rise to power in Egypt and his role in saving not only Egypt but also his family during a severe famine is a testament to God's providential care and faithfulness. This narrative echoes the promise of deliverance and preservation of God's people, pointing towards the ultimate deliverance through #Christ. Joseph’s life foreshadows the redemptive work of Jesus, who, though rejected and suffering, becomes the Savior of the world, as noted in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 7|Acts 7:9-10]]. ### The Deliverance from #Egypt Psalm 105 also recounts the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from #Egypt, fulfilling God's promise to bring His people out of bondage, as He declared to #Moses in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 3|Exodus 3:7-10]]. The plagues and the parting of the #RedSea, as recounted in this chapter, are prophetic symbols of God's power and salvation, prefiguring the ultimate deliverance from sin and death through Jesus Christ. This deliverance is a type of the salvation offered through Jesus, who liberates humanity from the bondage of sin, as expressed in [[Romans/Romans Chapter 6|Romans 6:14-18]]. ### The Provision in the Wilderness The psalm further emphasizes God's provision for the Israelites during their time in the wilderness, including the giving of #manna and water from the rock. These acts of provision are prophetic symbols of God's sustaining grace and foreshadow the spiritual nourishment found in #Christ, the Bread of Life, as Jesus declares in [[John/John Chapter 6|John 6:31-35]]. Just as God provided for His people in the wilderness, Christ provides for the spiritual needs of all believers, ensuring that they are never in want of His sustaining presence. ## Verses - **Psalm 105:1** - "Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done." - See also [[1 Chronicles/1 Chronicles Chapter 16]]. - **Psalm 105:2** - "Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds." - **Psalm 105:3** - "Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord." - **Psalm 105:4** - "Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him." - **Psalm 105:5** - "Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given," - **Psalm 105:6** - "you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones." - Related to God's covenant with #Abraham and #Jacob. - **Psalm 105:7** - "He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land." - **Psalm 105:8** - "He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations." - Reference to the covenant in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 17]]. - **Psalm 105:9** - "This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac." - **Psalm 105:10** - "He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant." - **Psalm 105:11** - "He said, 'I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.'" - See also [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]] and [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 15]]. - **Psalm 105:12** - "He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan." - **Psalm 105:13** - "They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another." - **Psalm 105:14** - "Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:" - **Psalm 105:15** - "'Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.'" - **Psalm 105:16** - "He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply." - **Psalm 105:17** - "Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave." - Joseph's story is found in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 37]]. - **Psalm 105:18** - "They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar." - **Psalm 105:19** - "Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character." - **Psalm 105:20** - "Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door." - **Psalm 105:21** - "Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions." - **Psalm 105:22** - "He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers." - **Psalm 105:23** - "Then Israel arrived in Egypt; Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham." - **Psalm 105:24** - "And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies." - **Psalm 105:25** - "Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord’s servants." - **Psalm 105:26** - "But the Lord sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron, whom he had chosen." - See also [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 3]] and [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 4]]. - **Psalm 105:27** - "They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians, and wonders in the land of Ham." - **Psalm 105:28** - "The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go." - **Psalm 105:29** - "He turned their water into blood, poisoning all the fish." - **Psalm 105:30** - "Then frogs overran the land and even invaded the king’s bedrooms." - **Psalm 105:31** - "When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians, and gnats swarmed across Egypt." - **Psalm 105:32** - "He sent them hail instead of rain, and lightning flashed over the land." - **Psalm 105:33** - "He ruined their grapevines and fig trees and shattered all the trees." - **Psalm 105:34** - "He spoke, and hordes of locusts came— young locusts beyond number." - **Psalm 105:35** - "They ate up everything green in the land, destroying all the crops in their fields." - **Psalm 105:36** - "Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home, the pride and joy of each family." - **Psalm 105:37** - "The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled." - **Psalm 105:38** - "Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly." - **Psalm 105:39** - "The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness." - **Psalm 105:40** - "They asked for meat, and he sent them quail; he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven." - **Psalm 105:41** - "He split open a rock, and water gushed out to form a river through the dry wasteland." - See also [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 17]]. - **Psalm 105:42** - "For he remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham." - **Psalm 105:43** - "So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing." - **Psalm 105:44** - "He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted." - **Psalm 105:45** - "All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions. Praise the Lord!"