THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:16-22, Psalm 105:45b.
PSALM 105:1. There is a call to “give thanks to the LORD.” It is always appropriate to remember and acknowledge the LORD’s gracious dealings with us.
Then there is an exhortation to “call upon His name.” We offer our praise and thanksgiving always to Him. His name (or names) represent who He is. We worship the one true and living God; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel; and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And there is a call to “make known His deeds among the people.” Not just the people of God, but all the peoples of the earth. It is a call to witness; a summons to testimony; and a commission to world mission.
PSALM 105:2. The next imperative is to: “Sing unto Him.” It is to the LORD that we are offering our praises. It is not for the choir to entertain the congregation, but for all to lift their voices in praise to the LORD.
And the Bible even provides us with a hymn book: “sing Psalms unto Him.” The book of Psalms is full of ‘psalms, hymns and spiritual songs’ (cf. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). And it is a part of the inspired word of God.
Then we are told what to talk about: “talk ye of all His wonderful works.” We can all find plenty to talk about, but the best conversation is godly conversation. The “ye” is plural, so that each one of His children is encouraged to speak of God’s mighty works of creation and of grace, and of mercy and love. We can share what we understand of Him from the Bible, and testify to what He has done in our own lives.
PSALM 105:3. Then there is a call to: “Glory ye in His holy name.” What a wonderful God we have! In this verse we are told that His name is holy. Everything about Him is holy.
And we are exhorted, “let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.” Our priority is to ‘seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness’ (cf. Matthew 6:33) – and it a joy to do so. Even after we have sought the Lord and found Him, it is a joy to go on seeking and learning in order to get to know Him better.
PSALM 105:4. So we are called to: “Seek the LORD and His strength.” We depend upon Him. His strength is made perfect in our weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9).
We are encouraged also to “seek His face evermore.” We desire His presence at all times, and look for the day when we shall see Him face to face, and be like Him evermore.
PSALM 105:5. And we are exhorted to: “REMEMBER His marvellous works that He hath done.” How can we forget? Yet time and time again His people do forget. Then trouble comes, and we are forced to remember: ‘Hitherto hath the LORD helped us’ (cf. 1 Samuel 7:12).
His marvellous works are described as “His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.” God spoke, and it was done. Deliverance came, enemies were scattered. Both sin and death were vanquished at the Cross.
PSALM 105:6. These imperatives are addressed to: “O ye seed of Abraham His servant, ye children of Jacob His servant.” Abraham saw the judgment on Sodom. The children of Jacob saw His marvellous works in Egypt. Yet Christians, too, are children of Abraham, chosen in Christ Jesus: and we are called to remember what Jesus has done for us!
PSALM 105:16. It is the LORD our God who “called for a famine upon the land: He brake the whole staff of bread.” Bread, or any staple, is aptly called ‘the staff of life’ – for without his staff man must surely fall. But such things are in the hands of God.
PSALM 105:17. But prior to the summoning of the famine, “He sent a man before them, even Joseph who was sold for a servant,” or rather, “a slave.” Yes, even behind that injustice, the LORD was working out His own hidden purposes to keep Israel alive.
PSALM 105:18. “Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron.” Joseph was first thrown into a pit by his jealous brothers, who then sold him as a slave to the Midianites. They in turn sold Joseph to an Egyptian who before long elevated him to the head of the household. Then the master’s wife told lies about Joseph, and he was cast into a dungeon.
PSALM 105:19. “Until the time that His word came: the word of the LORD tried him.” Our times are in His hand (cf. Psalm 31:15), but ‘the time appointed was long’ (cf. Daniel 10:1). Joseph had to endure much, and persevere long; but there was for him, as for Jesus – as also for us - a ‘fulness of time’ (cf. Galatians 4:4).
PSALM 105:20-22. None other than the king himself sent and released Joseph. This began the exaltation of Joseph, from the prison to the palace. Then from the palace to the premiership. And he who had been a slave in bonds was now able to bind the wrong-doers at his pleasure, and to teach the senators God’s wisdom. What a turnaround!
PSALM 105:45b. “Praise ye the LORD.”
