Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 105.1 and following. Indeed ,verses 1 to 15 of this psalm are part (along with Psalm 96) of the one who is called the first, given by King David to Asaph after the return of the ark (1 Chronicles 16:8-22). With only one difference which is very remarkable! Verse 15 of 1 Chronicles 16 exhorted, ” Remember ” His covenant. While our verse 8 states, ” He is forever remembered … ».
Then He sent “a man” who, in figure, fulfills his words: Joseph, the precious type of the Lord Jesus. Slave first, then prisoner, he was delivered by “the dominator of the peoples” who made him lord and governor of all his possessions (verses 17 to 21). Christ, dead and resurrected by the power of God, will be established Lord of all the earth and in Him all of God’s promises will be fulfilled (Acts 2:36). For thepower of Jehovah unfolds throughout the book of Exodus. First there are His miracles in judgment on the Egyptians (verses 27 to 36), then His miracles of grace in favor of Israel (verses 37 to 41). The terrible plagues that struck Egypt were not only intended to frighten and chastise the Pharaoh: Jehovah wanted above all to reveal himself to his own people through signs and wonders (verse 27; Exodus 14:31 ex 14:26-31). “He spoke”… and the thing happened (verses 31, 34). As on the day of creation, all he needed was one word to arouse the countless little agents of his wrath: poisonous flies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, yeleks (Hebrews 11:1-3). And what a humiliation for man to be defeated… by insects. Israel left Egypt after the Passover, exchanging its misery for great wealth (verse 37). He groaned under oppression; God brings him out with joy and song of triumph (verse 43). He who has worked so hard will possess “the work of the people” (verse 44; Deut. 6.10-13). And all this redemptive work is the result of Jehovah’s commitment to Abraham (verse 42; Genesis 15:12-16). Nothing can prevent the faithful God from fulfilling “His holy word” (verse 42; Luke 1:68-75).
‘Praise the Lord,’ The purpose of these first words is that Abraham’s offspring should place all their blessing in God’s free adoption. It was indeed a blessing not to be despised that they were created men, that they were cherished in the world by God’s paternal care, and that they received their sustenance from his hand; but it was a much more distinguished privilege to have been chosen to be his particular people. This is why the prophet amassed so many words to congratulate this grace. It does not deal with the government of the whole world as it did in the previous psalm, but it celebrates the paternal favor that God had shown to the children of Israel. He does indeed generally name his works, and his wonders, but he limits both to this spiritual covenant by which God has made the choice of a church, which could lead on earth a heavenly life.
‘Continually look for his face.’ Although he characterized in the previous verse the faithful by the honorable designation, those who seek God, but he still exhorts them seriously to seek Him, which is not a vain exhortation. Car chercher God is the mark by which all authentic saints are particularly distinguished from the men of the world; but they are far from seeking Him with the desired zeal; and, consequently, they always need incentives, to push them to this exercise, although they run on their own. Those whom the prophet here urges to seek God are not fickle, indolent people who cling to the impurities of the earth, but those who, with a prompt and ready mind, already aim to do so; and he stimulates them in this way, because he realizes that they are prevented by many obstacles from advancing in their course with sufficient speed. As eager as we are, we nevertheless need such an incentive to correct our slowness. The strength and face of God probably refer to this kind of manifestation by which God, accommodating himself to the rudeness of time, attracted at that time true believers. For the ark of the covenant is in many other places called both the strength and the face of God, because by this symbol people were recalled, he was near them, and he also really experienced his power.
‘He always remembers his covenant, his promises.’ The psalmist again mentions the cause for which God did so graciously with this people, and supported them so tenderly, namely, that he could fulfill his promise; for he had made a covenant with Abraham, pledging to be the God of his seed. For this reason, the prophet repeats again that God was not led from a new cause to deliver his people, but that his purpose, in doing so, was to prove the faithfulness of his covenant and to give effect to it; as if a man were digging up from the ground a treasure he had buried there. Nor is there any doubt that the prophet sought to lead the faith of his compatriots even further, – that his goal was that their posterity could be persuaded without a doubt, that as God had then proved, in the experience of this generation, the sure and substantial truth of his promise made several hundred years ago, so that it would not be any different from what their fathers had once found it.
And he brought out his people with joy: The prophet mentions joy to magnify more strongly the greatness of God’s grace. It was no small matter, that at the very moment when the Egyptians were afflicted by a severe and terrible plague, – when the whole kingdom was full of tears and screams, – and when in almost every house there was a corpse, – people who, a little before, groaned in great distress or lay almost dead, came out with a joyful heart. For inthe name of God’s chosen people, they are reminded that his favor was therefore not exercised over them because of their own merits, or because of the value of their race, but because he had adopted them, so that men who had nothing left to boast of could learn to glorify themselves in God alone.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
History of God’s Faithfulness:
· Thanksgiving, orderly
Ps 50:14 Offer for sacrifice to God thanksgiving, and fulfill your vows to the Most High. Ps 92:2 It is beautiful to praise the Lord, and to celebrate your name, O Most High! Eph 5:20 continually give thanks for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Phil 4:6 Worry about nothing; but in all things make your needs known to God through prayers and supplications, with thanksgiving. Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or in work, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanksgiving to God the Father.
· Bearing Witness to the Truth, Recommended
Isaiah 43:10 You are my witnesses, says Jehovah, You, and my servant whom I have chosen, That you may know, that you may believe me and understand that it is me: Before me there has not been formed of God, and after me there will be none. John 15:27 and you too will bear testimony, because you are with me from the beginning. Acts 5:20-21 Go, stand in the temple, and proclaim to the people all the words of this life. 21 Having heard this, they entered the temple in the morning and began to teach. The high priest and those who were with him having come, they summoned the Sanhedrin and all the elders of the sons of Israel, and they sent to fetch the apostles to the prison. 2:15 Say these things, exhort, and resume, with full authority. Let no one despise you.
· Eternal Covenant
Gen 9:16 The bow will be in the nude; and I will look at it, to remember the perpetual covenant between God and all living beings, of all flesh that is on the earth. 2 Sam 23:5 Is this not so of my house before God, for He has made an eternal covenant with me, In every respect well regulated and offering full security? Won’t he germinate all my salvation and desires? Esa 24.5 The country was desecrated by its inhabitants; For they transgressed the laws, violated the ordinances, They broke the eternal covenant. Isaiah 54:10 When the mountains move away, When the hills stagger, My love will not move away from you, and My covenant of peace will not falter, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Hb 13:20 May the God of peace, who brought from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus,
· Divine promises, characteristics
-There are always 1 Kings 8:56 Blessed be the Lord, who gave rest to his people of Israel, according to all his promises! Of all the good words he had spoken by Moses, his servant, none went without effect.
-Are guaranteed by the power of God Rom 4:21 and having the full conviction that what He promises He can also accomplish.
-Are founded in Christ 2 Cor 1:20 because, as far as all of God’s promises are concerned, it is in him that the yes is; that is why the Amen by him is pronounced by us to the glory of God.
-Have infinite value 2 Pet 1:14 for I know that I will leave it suddenly, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made known to me.
-Culminate in eternal life 1 John 2:25 And the promise He made to us is eternal life.
From all the above, we note that Psalm 105 considers Israel, the object of God’s blessing, until it is brought to Canaan, and then placed under the law; for this Ps. 105 offers thanksgiving to Jehovah and invites the seed of Abraham and Jacob to remember him and to glorify themselves in his name. Verses 7 to 9 give us the reasons. He is Jehovah their God; his judgments are throughout the earth, and he remembered his covenant forever. This covenant was to be an eternal covenant: it was ordained for a thousand generations; now he remembered it. Then comes the account of how God had cared for the fathers and judged Egypt for the deliverance of his people; in spite of the servitude, none had tottered among his tribes. “He remembered his holy word, and Abraham his servant, and he brought out his people with joy, his chosen ones with a song of triumph. And he gave them the countries of the nations, … so that they may keep its statutes and observe its laws.” As for all their subsequent falls, there is no mention of them in any way; for now God has remembered again his covenant with Abraham, and he has delivered his people by judgments, for this is the fulfillment of the promise; and “the gifts and call of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29). Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the celebration of the works of the Lord.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.