Psalm 105 explained: A Promise Kept Through History

A call to praise (vv. 1-7)

The singers are urged to thank God, tell other nations what he has done and keep seeking him. These verses also appear in 1 Chronicles 16, sung when the ark, Israel's sacred chest, was brought to Jerusalem.

Promise and protection (vv. 8-15)

God swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that their descendants would receive the land of Canaan, even while they were a few wandering outsiders. "Anointed ones" and "prophets" here mean these ancestors, whom God shielded from kings, as in the Genesis stories where rulers were warned not to harm them.

Joseph sent ahead (vv. 16-22)

Joseph, sold by his brothers and chained in Egypt, was tested until his dream readings came true and freed him. Pharaoh then gave him power over his household and officials, which placed him to save his family from the famine.

Growth and hostility in Egypt (vv. 23-27)

"The land of Ham" is a poetic name for Egypt, since Genesis lists Egypt among Ham's descendants. Israel grew large, and the psalm says God turned Egypt's heart to hate them before he sent Moses and Aaron, a hard claim it states without explaining.

The plagues and the exit (vv. 28-38)

The plagues come in a different order from Exodus and two are missing, and in verse 28 the Hebrew says "did not rebel," which scholars are unsure how to read. The list ends plainly with the death of Egypt's firstborn and Israel leaving with silver and gold while a frightened Egypt is glad to see them go.

Desert care and the land (vv. 39-45)

The cloud, fire, quail, manna ("bread of heaven") and water from a rock recall God's care in the desert, all tied back to the promise to Abraham. The psalm openly says the land and its harvests had belonged to other peoples, and names the purpose as Israel living by God's laws.

Key verse: Psalm 105:8

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether the land promise at the heart of this psalm still applies to the Jewish people today or is now fulfilled in a spiritual way through Jesus.

Something to think about

When you tell the story of your own life, which events do you treat as the turning points that give it meaning, and which do you leave out?