Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 105

Give thanks. The love of God as shown in Israel’s history demands full acknowledgment. This is the theme of the psalm. His name. See on Ps. 7:17. People. Literally, “peoples.” All nations are to know God’s “deeds,” His “holy name” (v. 3), His “marvellous works” (v. 5), His “judgments” (v. 5). The psalm opens with a missionary ring.

His strength. Only by God’s strength was Israel saved; only thus may we be saved.

Remember. Compare Deut. 32:7. Wonders. Here chiefly the miracles in Egypt, as constituting much of the content of the psalm (see Ex. 6:6; 7:4).

Seed of Abraham. See v. 42. Chosen. Literally, “chosen ones” (see v. 43).

Our God. Verses 7–11 extol God as the one who remembers His covenant.

A thousand generations. Poetic hyperbole for a long period of time (see Deut. 7:9).

With Abraham. See Gen. 12:7; 13:14–17; 15:18–21; 17:2; 22:15–18; etc. Unto Isaac. See Gen. 26:3; cf. 28:13.

To another. Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees (see Gen. 11:31 to 12:5). The patriarchs were forced to migrate from Canaan (see Gen. 12:10; 26:1; 28:10).

Reproved kings. See Gen. 12:17; 20:3.

Touch not. See Gen. 26:11. Anointed. Probably in the sense of being chosen for a special mission.

Nichol, F. D. (1978). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary : The Holy Bible with exegetical and expository comment. Commentary Reference Series (Ps 89:1). Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association.

Prophets. See Gen. 20:7.

Called for a famine. See Gen. 41:53–57.

Before them. See Gen. 45:5. Sold. See Gen. 37:28, 36.

His word came. That is until the prediction of Joseph’s dreams of pre-eminence over his brothers came to pass (see Gen. 37:5–11). Tried. The interval between the prediction and its fulfillment was a period of test for Joseph.

The king sent. See Gen. 41:14, 40, 41, 44, 46–49, 45:8.

Bind. The LXX, Syriac, and Jerome read yasar, “to instruct,” instead of the Heb. ’asar, “to bind.” The difference consists in only one letter. Such a reading would make the first part of the verse parallel with the second. The idea might be illustrated from an Egyptian custom, according to which it was the duty of the prime minister, or vizier, to supervise the education of the royal children. Pleasure. Heb. nephesh (see on Ps. 16:10). The translation “pleasure” is in harmony with Ugaritic usage (see p. 618). Senators. Literally, “elders.”

The land of Ham. Egypt, as the parallelism shows (see Ps. 78:51; see on Gen. 10:6).

Increased his people. Compare Ex. 1:9–16.

Turned their heart. In Bible figure, God is frequently described as doing that which He does not prevent (see on 2 Sam. 12:11; 16:22; 24:1; 1 Kings 12:15). Subtilly. See Ex. 1:10.

Moses his servant. See Ex. 14:31; Deut. 34:5; Joshua 1:2. Aaron. See Ex. 4:14–17, 27. 27 Among them. That is, the Egyptians. Ham. See on v. 23.

Darkness. The 9th plague (see Ex. 10:21–23). The psalmist does not follow the sequence of the Exodus account of the plagues.

Blood. See Ex. 7:14–25.

Frogs. See Ex. 8:1–15.

Flies. See Ex. 8:20–24. Lice. See Ex. 8:16–19.

Hail. See Ex. 9:18–35. Flaming fire. See Ex. 9:23, 24.

Locusts. Heb. ’arbeh (see Ex. 10:1–20). Caterpillers. Heb. yeleq, thought to represent the unwinged stage of the locust. In the Exodus account only one word (’arbeh) is used.

Firstborn. See Ex 11, 12.

Silver and gold. See Ex. 12:35, 36. Before leaving Egypt the children of Israel claimed a recompense for their unpaid labor (see PP 281). Not one feeble person. Literally, “no stumbler.”

Glad. See Ex. 12:33.

Cloud. To lead the way and protect from the burning sun (see Ex. 13:21; PP 282). Verses 39–41 present three of the principal miracles in the wilderness: the protection and guidance of the cloud and fire, the quails and manna, the waters gushing from the rock. The crossing of the Red Sea is not mentioned.

Quails. See Ex. 16:13. Bread of heaven. See on Ps. 78:24, 25.

Opened the rock. See Ex. 17:6; cf. Ps. 78:15, 20. Ps. 105:40, 41 emphasize the abundance of God’s gifts.

Gladness. Heb. rinnah, “a ringing cry of joy” (see Ex. 15).

Keep his laws. In the preoccupations of the last days, we do well to remember God’s blessings upon His people through all generations, and order our lives accordingly. Praise ye the Lord. See on Ps. 104:35.