Psalm 105 and 106 go together, but since both are lenthy, I’ll keep them separate. Studying history is important. Especially, when it comes to HIStory — God’s Story — Israel’s History. Recalling all the wonderful things, the miracles performed, the promises kept — everything that God has done strengthens our faith. It helps us to trust in HIM more than ourselves, humans, or the world.
Throughout the psalm below, I’ve linked names and words to the Old Testament accounts so you can explore the Word. Be like the Bereans and study the Scriptures to confirm the truth.
Psalm 105
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
3 Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
4 Search for the Lord and for his strength;
continually seek him.
5 Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
6 you children of his servant Abraham,
you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.7 He is the Lord our God.
His justice is seen throughout the land.
8 He always stands by his covenant—
the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
9 This is the covenant he made with Abraham
and the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
11 “I will give you the land of Canaan
as your special possession.”12 He said this when they were few in number,
a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
13 They wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
14 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.
He warned kings on their behalf:
15 “Do not touch my chosen people,
and do not hurt my prophets.”16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan,
cutting off its food supply.
17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with fetters
and placed his neck in an iron collar.
19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free;
the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household;
he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
22 He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased
and teach the king’s advisers.23 Then Israel arrived in Egypt;
Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel
until they became too mighty for their enemies.
25 Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites,
and they plotted against the Lord’s servants.26 But the Lord sent his servant Moses,
along with Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians,
and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness,
for they had defied his commands to let his people go.
29 He turned their water into blood,
poisoning all the fish.
30 Then frogs overran the land
and even invaded the king’s bedrooms.
31 When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians,
and gnats swarmed across Egypt.
32 He sent them hail instead of rain,
and lightning flashed over the land.
33 He ruined their grapevines and fig trees
and shattered all the trees.
34 He spoke, and hordes of locusts came—
young locusts beyond number.
35 They ate up everything green in the land,
destroying all the crops in their fields.
36 Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home,
the pride and joy of each family.37 The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold;
and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they were gone,
for they feared them greatly.
39 The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering
and gave them a great fire to light the darkness.
40 They asked for meat, and he sent them quail;
he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven.
41 He split open a rock, and water gushed out
to form a river through the dry wasteland.
42 For he remembered his sacred promise
to his servant Abraham.
43 So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy,
his chosen ones with rejoicing.
44 He gave his people the lands of pagan nations,
and they harvested crops that others had planted.
45 All this happened so they would follow his decrees
and obey his instructions.Praise the Lord!
Psalm 105 NLT
The Old Testament is Israel’s History
You can’t read the Old Testament (Israel’s History) from Genesis to Malachi and not feel God’s Love for His Chosen People. He did so much for them — like a husband who provides for his wife. In return, all God wanted was faithfulness, loyalty, and worship of Him alone. Compared to all God did for them, what God wanted in return was minuscule. It’s stated in the last verse: “All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions,” (v45). Yet, because of their sinful nature, they couldn’t comply.
Israel’s History in the Land of Canaan
Pastor Sandy Adams has an interesting comment on this which applies to the ongoing conflict in and around Israel….
Understand the land of Canaan never belonged to the Palestinians, nor ultimately did it belong to the Jews. Throughout the Bible, God calls Samaria and Judea “My Land.” The land belongs to God and He chose to give it to
Abraham or his heirs. And this is agreed upon by both Jews and Muslims alike.The difference is their interpretation of Abraham’s heirs. Muslims pray to “the God of Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac” – not “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Here’s the bottom line in the Middle East conflict – 280,000,000 Muslims misinterpret Abraham’s family tree. As far as God is concerned Ishmael is an illegitimate son. Isaac was the promised son. He and his descendents are the heirs of the covenant.
Pastor Sandy Adams
God promised Abraham a land, then a nation — sod, seed, and salvation.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3 NLT
This is an eternal promise — and God keeps His promises! Every time I hear an American politician deny Israel the help that they need to stop the onslaught of Islamic attacks I kringe thinking, “We’re so screwed!” We deserve everything we get as God takes away His hand of protection from America.
Though that passage in 2 Chronicles was meant for Israel, it works for us today. Imagine what the America would be like if every single person turned from their sins, begged God for forgiveness, and sought a relationship with Him. Wow! That’s what the Kingdom of God will be like!
Jesus told us…
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:33 NLT
It’s Starts With YOU!
Isn’t it about time you let Him in?
