Psalms 105
Psalms 105 is part of “Book IV: The Numbers Book” (90–106) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 105 summary
Some of the psalms of praise are very short, others very long, to teach us that, in our devotions, we should be more observant how our hearts work than how the time passes and neither overstretch ourselves by coveting to be long nor over-stint ourselves by coveting to be short, but either the one or the other as we find in our hearts to pray. This is a long psalm; the general scope is the same with most of the psalms, to set forth the glory of God, but the subject-matter is particular. Every time we come to the throne of grace we may, if we please, furnish ourselves out of the word of God (out of the history of the New Testament, as this out…
Read the full introduction
Some of the psalms of praise are very short, others very long, to teach us that, in our devotions, we should be more observant how our hearts work than how the time passes and neither overstretch ourselves by coveting to be long nor over-stint ourselves by coveting to be short, but either the one or the other as we find in our hearts to pray. This is a long psalm; the general scope is the same with most of the psalms, to set forth the glory of God, but the subject-matter is particular. Every time we come to the throne of grace we may, if we please, furnish ourselves out of the word of God (out of the history of the New Testament, as this out of the history of the Old) with new songs, with fresh thoughts - so copious, so various, so inexhaustible is the subject. In the foregoing psalm we are taught to praise God for his wondrous works of common providence with reference to the world in general. In this we are directed to praise him for his special favours to his church. We find the first eleven verses of this psalm in the beginning of that psalm which David delivered to Asaph to be used (as it should seem) in the daily service of the sanctuary when the ark was fixed in the place he had prepared for it, by which it appears both who penned it and when and upon what occasion it was penned, Ch1 16:7, etc. David by it designed to instruct his people in the obligations they lay under to adhere faithfully to their holy religion. Here is the preface (Psa 105:1-7) and the history itself in several articles. I. God's covenant with the patriarchs (Psa 105:8-11). II. His care of them while they were strangers (Psa 105:12-15). III. His raising up Joseph to be the shepherd and stone of Israel (Psa 105:16-22). IV. The increase of Israel in Egypt and their deliverance out of Egypt (v. 23-38). V. The care he took of them in the wilderness and their settlement in Canaan (Psa 105:39-45). In singing this we must give to God the glory of his wisdom and power, his goodness and faithfulness, must look upon ourselves as concerned in the affairs of the Old Testament church, both because to it were committed the oracles of God, which are our treasure, and because out of it Christ arose, and these things happened to it for ensamples.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Psalms 105 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Give Thanks to the Lord
1Praise the Lord, and call vpon his Name: declare his workes among the people. 2Sing vnto him, sing prayse vnto him, and talke of all his wonderous workes. 3Reioyce in his holy Name: let the heart of them that seeke the Lord, reioyce. 4Seeke the Lord and his strength: seeke his face continually. 5Remember his marueilous woorkes, that he hath done, his wonders and the iudgements of his mouth, 6Ye seede of Abraham his seruant, ye children of Iaakob, which are his elect. 7He is the Lord our God: his iudgements are through all the earth. 8He hath alway remembred his couenant and promise, that he made to a thousand generations, 9Euen that which he made with Abraham, and his othe vnto Izhak: 10And since hath confirmed it to Iaakob for a lawe, and to Israel for an euerlasting couenant, 11Saying, Vnto thee will I giue the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance. 12Albeit they were fewe in nomber, yea, very fewe, and strangers in the land, 13And walked about from nation to nation, from one kingdome to another people, 14Yet suffered he no man to doe them wrong, but reprooued Kings for their sakes, saying, 15Touche not mine anointed, and doe my Prophets no harme. 16Moreouer, he called a famine vpon ye land, and vtterly brake the staffe of bread. 17But he sent a man before them: Ioseph was solde for a slaue. 18They helde his feete in the stockes, and he was laide in yrons, 19Vntill his appointed time came, and the counsell of the Lord had tryed him. 20The King sent and loosed him: euen the Ruler of the people deliuered him. 21He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance, 22That he shoulde binde his princes vnto his will, and teach his Ancients wisedome. 23Then Israel came to Egypt, and Iaakob was a stranger in the land of Ham. 24And he increased his people exceedingly, and made them stronger then their oppressours. 25He turned their heart to hate his people, and to deale craftily with his seruants. 26Then sent he Moses his seruant, and Aaron whom he had chosen. 27They shewed among them the message of his signes, and wonders in the land of Ham. 28He sent darkenesse, and made it darke: and they were not disobedient vnto his commission. 29He turned their waters into blood, and slewe their fish. 30Their land brought foorth frogs, euen in their Kings chambers. 31He spake, and there came swarmes of flies and lice in all their quarters. 32He gaue them haile for raine, and flames of fire in their land. 33He smote their vines also and their figge trees, and brake downe the trees in their coastes. 34He spake, and the grashoppers came, and caterpillers innumerable, 35And did eate vp all the grasse in their land, and deuoured the fruite of their ground. 36He smote also all the first borne in their land, euen the beginning of all their strength. 37He brought them forth also with siluer and golde, and there was none feeble among their tribes. 38Egypt was glad at their departing: for the feare of them had fallen vpon them. 39He spred a cloude to be a couering, and fire to giue light in the night. 40They asked, and he brought quailes, and he filled them with the bread of heauen. 41He opened the rocke, and the waters flowed out, and ranne in the drye places like a riuer. 42For he remembred his holy promise to Abraham his seruant, 43And he brought forth his people with ioy, and his chosen with gladnesse, 44And gaue them the lands of the heathen, and they tooke the labours of the people in possession, 45That they might keepe his statutes, and obserue his Lawes. Prayse ye the Lord.