Tyndale Open Study NotesPsalms 105

• This hymn praises the Lord’s faithfulness to Abraham and his descendants in all their journeys:

  • from Ur to Canaan (Psalm 105:12),

  • to Egypt (Psalm 105:17, 23),

  • through the wilderness (Psalm 105:37, 41), and

  • back to Canaan (Psalm 105:44).

  These events fulfilled the Lord's promise to Abraham (Psalm 105:9, 42), which was the basis for Israel’s very existence. Joseph, whose suffering turned into glory, serves as a model of encouragement for Israel (Psalm 105:16–25).

• Psalm 105:1–15 (along with 96; 106:1, 47–48) is included in David’s song of praise recorded in 1 Chronicles 16.

The poet begins with a call to give thanks (see also Psalms 106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 136:1). The other psalms continue with the refrain "for He is good!" The rest of Psalm 105 tells of God's goodness.

The story of Israel is based on the Lord’s commitment to Abraham. Even when a question arises about the future of God’s covenant with David (Psalm 89), God’s covenant with Abraham stands, as does the spiritual bond between God and Israel, Abraham’s descendants.

The covenant is the Lord’s unbreakable promise to be the Father of Abraham and his descendants (see Genesis 12:1–9; 15:1–21).

God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham's descendants as their special possession. They could live there as God's people (Psalm 105:44–45; Genesis 12:7; 15:7–21).

The Lord protected Israel’s patriarchs, the early fathers of the nation.

Abraham was one of the nation's prophets (Genesis 20:7).

These verses tell the story of Joseph (see Genesis 37–41).

• his prediction: Literally, his word.

• the word of the LORD proved him right: See Genesis 39:6–12.

These verses describe Israel's suffering in Egypt (see Exodus 1:1–14).

Egypt (Hebrew Mitsrayim) is called the land of Ham.

The psalmist tells the story of Moses and the plagues in Egypt (see Exodus 7:20–12:30).

The exodus and the conquest of Canaan fulfilled God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Psalm 105:9–10). Unlike Psalm 78, the poet describes the Lord's goodness without mentioning Israel's history of rebellion (compare Psalm 106).

none … stumbled: The Lord protected all of his people (compare Psalm 9:3).

The Lord’s presence was as evident to all as a fire in the darkness (Exodus 13:22).

The story of redemption is also the story of the Lord’s faithfulness.

Canaan was a land of pagan nations (see Psalm 111:6). The psalmist might also be thinking about God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 24:60) regarding the lands given to Isaac (Genesis 26:3).

The Lord planned for Israel to show who he is by obeying him. Israel was to be his example among the nations.