Psalm 105
Great is His Faithfulness
Our whole lives are built on trust. From trusting that cars will stop while we walk at a zebra crossing to trusting that our alarm will go off at the time we set it for an early morning wake up.
When considering the future, what do we put our trust in? For the Christian, our trust is rooted in the faithfulness of God. We believe that what he has said he will do.
And the way this Psalm encourages us to keep trusting God is remembering his faithfulness throughout the history of his people.
1 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4 Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgements he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7 He is the LORD our God;
his judgements are in all the earth.
8 He remembers his covenant for ever,
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,
10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your portion for an inheritance.”
12 When they were few in number,
of little account, and sojourners in it,
13 wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,
14 he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account,
15 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
do my prophets no harm!”
16 When he summoned a famine on the land
and broke all supply of bread,
17 he had sent a man ahead of them,
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 His feet were hurt with fetters;
his neck was put in a collar of iron;
19 until what he had said came to pass,
the word of the LORD tested him.
20 The king sent and released him;
the ruler of the peoples set him free;
21 he made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions,
22 to bind his princes at his pleasure
and to teach his elders wisdom.
23 Then Israel came to Egypt;
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And the LORD made his people very fruitful
and made them stronger than their foes.
25 He turned their hearts to hate his people,
to deal craftily with his servants.
26 He sent Moses, his servant,
and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed his signs among them
and miracles in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark;
they did not rebel against his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood
and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs,
even in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
and gnats throughout their country.
32 He gave them hail for rain,
and fiery lightning bolts through their land.
33 He struck down their vines and fig trees,
and shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke, and the locusts came,
young locusts without number,
35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land
and ate up the fruit of their ground.
36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of all their strength.
37 Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
for dread of them had fallen upon it.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
and fire to give light by night.
40 They asked, and he brought quail,
and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed through the desert like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy promise,
and Abraham, his servant.
43 So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
44 And he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,
45 that they might keep his statutes
and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD!
This Psalm is for the offspring of Abraham (v6). They are called to give thanks (v1) and glory in God (v3), summoned to sing (v2) and seek the LORD (v4). The grounds for these calls and summons, are rooted in the invitation of v5. The offspring of Abraham are invited to remember all the marvellous and mighty things God has achieved for his people. And all these have come about because God himself remembered his covenant (v8). The promises God has made to his people, are the promises he keeps for his people. They were not just promises made to Abraham, but confirmed with Isaac, Jacob and through to Israel (vv9-11). The promise of the land is that heavenly country that Abraham looked toward by faith (see Hebrews 11.16).
Who are the offspring of Abraham addressed here? They are all those who have put their faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus. The apostle Paul says that all those who have trusted in Christ become the true offspring of Abraham (Galatians 3.7). For the true offspring of Abraham are those who have believed in God and his promise. When Abraham believed God, it was counted to him as righteousness (Genesis 15.6). And any who have trusted in God’s promise, through Jesus, are also counted righteous (Galatians 3.6). Therefore, all who have been justified by faith in Jesus, become the true heirs of Abraham (Galatians 3.29).
If you have placed your trust in Jesus, these promises are for you!
All who have been justified by faith become the inheritors of both the promises of God and the history of the people of God.
This Psalm walks us through the history of Israel, from Joseph being sold into slavery to God liberating his people from slavery. It’s the story of a people wandering to a people being led to a new home. This is our history and in being reminded of our history, we are reminded of God’s constant and consistent faithfulness to his covenant promises.
Notice that in this Psalm, it is not about what the people have done for God but what God has done in faithfulness for his people. In fact, the people of God are described as weak, insignificant and oppressed (vv12-13). This main portion of the Psalm then is all about God.
He allowed no one to oppress them (v14)
He rebuked enemy kings (v14)
He summoned a famine breaking the supply of bread (v16)
He sent Joseph (v17)
He turned the hearts of Egypt away from Israel (v25)
He sent Moses and Aaron to do his works (v26)
He sent darkness throughout Egypt (v28)
He turned waters into blood (v29)
He summoned flies and gnats through his word (v31)
He showered Egypt with hail and fiery lightening bolts (v32)
He shattered their trees (v33)
He summoned myriads of locusts through his word (v34)
He struck down the firstborn (v36)
He liberated his people with great treasures (v37)
He protected them with a pillar of cloud and fire (v39)
He provided them with food to keep them nourished in the wilderness (v40)
He provided water from where there was none to be seen or found (v41)
The Exodus is the result of God remembering (vv42-43). The joy of God’s people happens because he is faithful to his promises.
God remembers his covenant. In this Psalm, both Joseph and Moses were sent to deliver God’s people (v17 & v26). In the New Testament, we see that God remembering his covenant, sends Jesus, to redeem his people and set them free (Luke 1.72). Jesus is the greater Redeemer who surrenders his own life so that our lives might be saved. And so as we remember God’s faithfulness in delivering his people from slavery to Pharaoh, we also remember God’s faithfulness in delivering us from slavery to sin through the cross of Christ (see Romans 6.6-7).
The obedience that is expected of the people then is only ever a response to what God has already done. We don’t do things to earn God’s favour. We keep his statues and observe his laws as a response to his lavish grace to us. God has saved us, so we should then serve him.
Glory be to God the Father, who is ever and always faithful to his promises.
Glory be to God the Son, in whom all the promises of God find their yes and amen.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who is promised to and given to all God’s people by faith.
Ever three and ever One.
Home Group: Ecclesiastes 5-6
What is the danger that the Preacher cautions us about when we come to worship (5.1-7)? How does knowing who God truly is guard us in this area? What are some steps we can take to protect ourselves?
In what ways is wealth deceptive and disappointing (5.8-6.9)? How are we tricked and beguiled by money and possessions? What happens when we pursue money at the expense of other things?
What is the alternative and healthier way of life that the Preacher presents to us (5.18-20)? What treasures should we give our lives in pursuit of?