American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Psalm 105
1
O give thanks to the LORD; call on his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2
Sing to him, sing psalms to him: talk you of all his wondrous works.
3
Glory you in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
4
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face ever more.
5
Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6
O you seed of Abraham his servant, you children of Jacob his chosen.
7
He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
8
He has remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9
Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac;
10
And confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
11
Saying, To you will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12
When they were but a few men in number; yes, very few, and strangers in it.
13
When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
14
He suffered no man to do them wrong: yes, he reproved kings for their sakes;
15
Saying, Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
16
Moreover he called for a famine on the land: he broke the whole staff of bread.
17
He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18
Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
19
Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
20
The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
21
He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
22
To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
23
Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
📍 Ham 2
24
And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
25
He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtly with his servants.
26
He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27
They showed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
📍 Ham 2
28
He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
29
He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
30
Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
31
He spoke, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
32
He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
33
He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and broke the trees of their coasts.
34
He spoke, and the locusts came, and caterpillars, and that without number,
35
And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
36
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
37
He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
38
Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell on them.
39
He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
40
The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41
He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
42
For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43
And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
44
And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labor of the people;
45
That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise you the LORD.
Summary of Psalm 105
Psalm 105 is a historical song that tells the story of God's faithfulness to Israel, beginning with His covenant with Abraham and continuing through Joseph, the Exodus, the wilderness, and the inheritance of the promised land. Psalm 105 ultimately teaches that God's faithfulness can be seen across generations and historical circumstances. The psalm does not focus on one isolated miracle. Instead, it tells a long story. Abraham received a promise. Joseph suffered before eventually being elevated to a position of influence. Israel became oppressed in Egypt. Moses and Aaron were sent to lead them out. God provided for them in the wilderness. Finally, He brought them into the land He had promised. The message is that God's purposes can continue even when His people cannot see how the story will end.
The opening command to remember is extremely important. Israel's history was not supposed to be forgotten. The people were encouraged to remember God's works, tell others about them, sing about them, and teach future generations. Remembering history was therefore an act of faith. When people remembered how God had acted before, they had a reason to trust Him in their present circumstances.
The story begins with Abraham and the covenant. At that stage, Abraham's family was small and vulnerable. They did not possess the land that had been promised to them. They lived as travelers among other peoples. From a human perspective, the promise could have seemed impossible. Yet God protected the patriarchs and continued moving His purpose forward. The psalm emphasizes that God's promise did not depend on Israel already being powerful.
The story of Joseph demonstrates this principle in an especially powerful way. Joseph was sold as a slave and later imprisoned. His circumstances looked like a complete failure. Yet the psalm describes him as someone God had sent ahead. This does not mean that the evil actions of those who mistreated Joseph were good. Rather, it shows that God was able to work through circumstances that appeared disastrous. Joseph's suffering eventually placed him in a position where he could help preserve his family during famine.
Joseph's rise in Egypt demonstrates how quickly circumstances can change. One moment he was imprisoned. Later he was given authority over the nation's resources and officials. The psalm emphasizes God's role in this transformation. Joseph did not simply escape suffering through personal ability. His story became part of the larger movement of God's covenant purposes. What appeared to be a delay was actually connected with preparation for what came later.
The arrival of Jacob's family in Egypt begins another major stage. Israel became fruitful and numerous. The people who had once been a small family became a large population. Yet their growth eventually produced fear among the Egyptians. The psalm describes the Egyptians becoming hostile toward Israel. This leads naturally into the Exodus story. The same people who had once found protection in Egypt eventually became oppressed there.
God responded by sending Moses and Aaron. The psalm presents them as servants carrying God's authority. Through them, God demonstrated His power over Egypt. The plagues are remembered in a concentrated form. Darkness, blood, frogs, insects, hail, locusts, and the death of the firstborn all appear in the historical sequence. The purpose of remembering these events is to show that Egypt's power could not prevent God's purposes from being fulfilled.
The descriptions of the plagues also show that the natural world itself could become an instrument of judgment. Water, animals, weather, insects, and darkness were all involved. The same creation that provides food and life in other parts of Scripture can also become an instrument through which God confronts oppression. The psalm therefore portrays God as sovereign over both nature and human kingdoms.
The departure from Egypt is presented as an act of God's direct provision. Israel left with silver and gold, and the people were not left behind because of weakness. God was bringing them out as a nation. The Egyptians were afraid as Israel departed because the plagues had demonstrated the power of Israel's God. The Exodus therefore becomes both a rescue of Israel and a public demonstration of God's authority.
The wilderness period shows that freedom from Egypt did not mean that Israel could simply survive on its own. They needed continuing provision. God gave them guidance through the cloud and fire. He provided food when they were hungry. He gave them water in the wilderness. The psalm emphasizes these events because they demonstrate that God's care continued after the initial deliverance. God did not rescue His people and then abandon them.
The reference to the cloud during the day and fire at night also emphasizes guidance. The people did not know the entire route ahead of them, but they were given signs of God's presence and direction. This becomes an important spiritual picture: God's people may not know everything about the future, but they can trust the One who leads them.
Verse 42 brings the entire historical story back to its foundation: God remembered His holy promise to Abraham. This is one of the most important statements in the chapter. The Exodus was not an isolated event. It was connected to a promise made generations earlier. Abraham lived long before Moses, yet the promise continued to shape Israel's history. God's faithfulness therefore extends across generations.
The final stage is the inheritance of the land. God brought His people into the territory that had been promised to their ancestors. But the psalm makes clear that the land was not the final purpose by itself. The people were given the land so that they would keep God's laws and follow His instructions. Blessing created responsibility. God's faithfulness toward Israel called for a faithful response from Israel.
The final command to praise the LORD brings the historical story back to worship. The people are not simply being asked to remember history for academic purposes. They are remembering history so that they will recognize God's faithfulness and respond with gratitude. Abraham's promise, Joseph's suffering, Israel's oppression, the Exodus, wilderness provision, and the inheritance of the land all become reasons to praise God.
Psalm 105 ultimately teaches that God's work often unfolds across long periods of time. Abraham did not see the entire story. Joseph experienced suffering before understanding how his circumstances would be used. Israel experienced oppression before experiencing freedom. The wilderness came before the inheritance. Yet throughout every stage, God's covenant purposes continued. The chapter therefore encourages God's people to remember His works, trust His promises, tell future generations what He has done, and remain faithful to His instructions. The central message is simple: circumstances may change dramatically, but God's faithfulness continues from generation to generation, and His promises remain active even when their fulfillment takes time.
The opening command to remember is extremely important. Israel's history was not supposed to be forgotten. The people were encouraged to remember God's works, tell others about them, sing about them, and teach future generations. Remembering history was therefore an act of faith. When people remembered how God had acted before, they had a reason to trust Him in their present circumstances.
The story begins with Abraham and the covenant. At that stage, Abraham's family was small and vulnerable. They did not possess the land that had been promised to them. They lived as travelers among other peoples. From a human perspective, the promise could have seemed impossible. Yet God protected the patriarchs and continued moving His purpose forward. The psalm emphasizes that God's promise did not depend on Israel already being powerful.
The story of Joseph demonstrates this principle in an especially powerful way. Joseph was sold as a slave and later imprisoned. His circumstances looked like a complete failure. Yet the psalm describes him as someone God had sent ahead. This does not mean that the evil actions of those who mistreated Joseph were good. Rather, it shows that God was able to work through circumstances that appeared disastrous. Joseph's suffering eventually placed him in a position where he could help preserve his family during famine.
Joseph's rise in Egypt demonstrates how quickly circumstances can change. One moment he was imprisoned. Later he was given authority over the nation's resources and officials. The psalm emphasizes God's role in this transformation. Joseph did not simply escape suffering through personal ability. His story became part of the larger movement of God's covenant purposes. What appeared to be a delay was actually connected with preparation for what came later.
The arrival of Jacob's family in Egypt begins another major stage. Israel became fruitful and numerous. The people who had once been a small family became a large population. Yet their growth eventually produced fear among the Egyptians. The psalm describes the Egyptians becoming hostile toward Israel. This leads naturally into the Exodus story. The same people who had once found protection in Egypt eventually became oppressed there.
God responded by sending Moses and Aaron. The psalm presents them as servants carrying God's authority. Through them, God demonstrated His power over Egypt. The plagues are remembered in a concentrated form. Darkness, blood, frogs, insects, hail, locusts, and the death of the firstborn all appear in the historical sequence. The purpose of remembering these events is to show that Egypt's power could not prevent God's purposes from being fulfilled.
The descriptions of the plagues also show that the natural world itself could become an instrument of judgment. Water, animals, weather, insects, and darkness were all involved. The same creation that provides food and life in other parts of Scripture can also become an instrument through which God confronts oppression. The psalm therefore portrays God as sovereign over both nature and human kingdoms.
The departure from Egypt is presented as an act of God's direct provision. Israel left with silver and gold, and the people were not left behind because of weakness. God was bringing them out as a nation. The Egyptians were afraid as Israel departed because the plagues had demonstrated the power of Israel's God. The Exodus therefore becomes both a rescue of Israel and a public demonstration of God's authority.
The wilderness period shows that freedom from Egypt did not mean that Israel could simply survive on its own. They needed continuing provision. God gave them guidance through the cloud and fire. He provided food when they were hungry. He gave them water in the wilderness. The psalm emphasizes these events because they demonstrate that God's care continued after the initial deliverance. God did not rescue His people and then abandon them.
The reference to the cloud during the day and fire at night also emphasizes guidance. The people did not know the entire route ahead of them, but they were given signs of God's presence and direction. This becomes an important spiritual picture: God's people may not know everything about the future, but they can trust the One who leads them.
Verse 42 brings the entire historical story back to its foundation: God remembered His holy promise to Abraham. This is one of the most important statements in the chapter. The Exodus was not an isolated event. It was connected to a promise made generations earlier. Abraham lived long before Moses, yet the promise continued to shape Israel's history. God's faithfulness therefore extends across generations.
The final stage is the inheritance of the land. God brought His people into the territory that had been promised to their ancestors. But the psalm makes clear that the land was not the final purpose by itself. The people were given the land so that they would keep God's laws and follow His instructions. Blessing created responsibility. God's faithfulness toward Israel called for a faithful response from Israel.
The final command to praise the LORD brings the historical story back to worship. The people are not simply being asked to remember history for academic purposes. They are remembering history so that they will recognize God's faithfulness and respond with gratitude. Abraham's promise, Joseph's suffering, Israel's oppression, the Exodus, wilderness provision, and the inheritance of the land all become reasons to praise God.
Psalm 105 ultimately teaches that God's work often unfolds across long periods of time. Abraham did not see the entire story. Joseph experienced suffering before understanding how his circumstances would be used. Israel experienced oppression before experiencing freedom. The wilderness came before the inheritance. Yet throughout every stage, God's covenant purposes continued. The chapter therefore encourages God's people to remember His works, trust His promises, tell future generations what He has done, and remain faithful to His instructions. The central message is simple: circumstances may change dramatically, but God's faithfulness continues from generation to generation, and His promises remain active even when their fulfillment takes time.