Psalm 105 - Give Thanks to Our Covenant Keeping God
Psalm 105 reminds us that our God is a covenant keeping God. It calls upon the nation of Israel to give thanks to Him by remembering the promise He made to them and what He has done for them. In this, it becomes instructive to us as Christians on how we, too, should praise God for the promise of salvation He has made to us in Christ and what He has done to deliver on that promise to us.
The Commands of Psalm 105
Take note of the commands of Psalm 105.
Thanking God through Remembering His Acts
And so, the Psalmist remembers exactly what God has done. God made a covenant with Abraham, a promise that He repeated to Isaac, and a statute He confirmed with Jacob, a covenant given to Israel to "give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." And then God acted over and over to ensure that this covenant, this promise, this statue was fulfilled. He protected Israel from the very beginning when they were small in number and vulnerable. He saved them from famine by sending Joseph to become a leader in Egypt. He blessed them while in Egypt to grow in number. He freed them from captivity in Egypt by sending Moses and Aaron. He led and provided for them in the wilderness that they would not be lost and never acquire the land of Canaan He had promised to them.
Why? Because "He remember his holy promise and Abraham, His servant."
And what was the result? Israel was brought out of captivity and into Canaan with joy and singing where they possessed land and enjoyed the blessing of the fruit of other peoples' work.
The Purpose of God Fulfilling His Promise
But why did God do this? So that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws.
The people were given Canaan for more than just their own enjoyment, though this was part of the blessing. They were brought to live in Canaan so that they would show in the way they lived that it was God who they served in every aspect of their lives by keeping His status and observing His law. They were saved to "Praise the Lord" with the entirety of their lives. It is no wonder why Christ says the first and greatest commandment is "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matt 22:37-38, ESV)
The First and Final Call: Praise the Lord!
And what is the final, summarizing response to all that God has done and who He shows Himself to be through His care and provision of keeping His covenant?
Praise the Lord!
The Commands of Psalm 105
Take note of the commands of Psalm 105.
- Give thanks to the Lord.
What does it mean to give thanks to God?
Call upon His name.
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
- Sing to Him.
What does it mean to sing to Him?
Sing praises to Him.
Tell of His wondrous works.
- Glory in His holy name.
What does it mean to glory in His name?
Rejoice in your heart.
- Seek the Lord and His strength.
What does it mean to seek the Lord and His strength?
Seek His presence continually.
Summarizing the Commands: How do you give thanks to God, sing praises to Him, glory in His holy name, seek the Lord and His strength, seek His presence continually?Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered.
Thanking God through Remembering His Acts
And so, the Psalmist remembers exactly what God has done. God made a covenant with Abraham, a promise that He repeated to Isaac, and a statute He confirmed with Jacob, a covenant given to Israel to "give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." And then God acted over and over to ensure that this covenant, this promise, this statue was fulfilled. He protected Israel from the very beginning when they were small in number and vulnerable. He saved them from famine by sending Joseph to become a leader in Egypt. He blessed them while in Egypt to grow in number. He freed them from captivity in Egypt by sending Moses and Aaron. He led and provided for them in the wilderness that they would not be lost and never acquire the land of Canaan He had promised to them.
Why? Because "He remember his holy promise and Abraham, His servant."
And what was the result? Israel was brought out of captivity and into Canaan with joy and singing where they possessed land and enjoyed the blessing of the fruit of other peoples' work.
The Purpose of God Fulfilling His Promise
But why did God do this? So that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws.
The people were given Canaan for more than just their own enjoyment, though this was part of the blessing. They were brought to live in Canaan so that they would show in the way they lived that it was God who they served in every aspect of their lives by keeping His status and observing His law. They were saved to "Praise the Lord" with the entirety of their lives. It is no wonder why Christ says the first and greatest commandment is "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matt 22:37-38, ESV)
The First and Final Call: Praise the Lord!
And what is the final, summarizing response to all that God has done and who He shows Himself to be through His care and provision of keeping His covenant?
Praise the Lord!
