Psalm One Hundred and Five

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

Psalm 105:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

Psalm 105:2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

Psalm 105:3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

Psalm 105:4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Psalm 105:5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Psalm 105:6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

Psalm 105:7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.

Psalm 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

thousand generations. It is evident from this verse that “a thousand generations” does not mean precisely, “thirty thousand years,” but rather is just a metaphor synonymous with “for ever.” This fact is further emphasized in Psalm 105:10 where the covenant is called “an everlasting covenant.” Compare Deuteronomy 7:9 and 1 Chronicles 16:15 (the psalm delivered by David in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 included in verses 8-22 has practically the same words as Psalm 105:1-15).

Psalm 105:9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;

Psalm 105:10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

Psalm 105:11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:

Psalm 105:12 When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

Psalm 105:13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;

Psalm 105:14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;

Psalm 105:15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Touch not mine anointed. In context, the writer (probably David) is referring to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were indeed wonderfully protected by God in an alien land, even though they were never physically “anointed,” and although there is no record that God actually spoke these words concerning them. The implication is that God does specially protect all those whom He has called for some special service, as long as they faithfully carry out that mission. There may be an indirect reference to God's words to Abimelech (Genesis 20:3-7).

Psalm 105:16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

Psalm 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

Psalm 105:18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

Psalm 105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

Psalm 105:20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

Psalm 105:21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:

Psalm 105:22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

Psalm 105:23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

land of Ham. Egypt is also called “the land of Ham” in Psalm 78:51; 105:27; 106:22.

Psalm 105:24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.

Psalm 105:25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtly with his servants.

Psalm 105:26 He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.

Psalm 105:27 They showed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.

his signs. The psalmist (probably David) recounts in graphic detail the miracles associated with the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt and their preservation in the wilderness. This is an inspired confirmation of the literal reality of these miracles.

Psalm 105:28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.

Psalm 105:29 He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.

Psalm 105:30 Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.

Psalm 105:31 He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.

Psalm 105:32 He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.

Psalm 105:33 He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.

Psalm 105:34 He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillars, and that without number,

Psalm 105:35 And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.

Psalm 105:36 He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

Psalm 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

Psalm 105:38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.

Psalm 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.

Psalm 105:40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

Psalm 105:41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.

Psalm 105:42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.

Psalm 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:

Psalm 105:44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;

Psalm 105:45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.