6 O ye seed H2233 of Abraham H85 his servant, H5650 ye children H1121 of Jacob H3290 his chosen. H972
Moreover he said, H559 I am the God H430 of thy father, H1 the God H430 of Abraham, H85 the God H430 of Isaac, H3327 and the God H430 of Jacob. H3290 And Moses H4872 hid H5641 his face; H6440 for he was afraid H3372 to look H5027 upon God. H430
For thou art an holy H6918 people H5971 unto the LORD H3068 thy God: H430 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath chosen H977 thee to be a special H5459 people H5971 unto himself, above all people H5971 that are upon the face H6440 of the earth. H127 The LORD H3068 did not set his love H2836 upon you, nor choose H977 you, because ye were more H7230 in number than any people; H5971 for ye were the fewest H4592 of all people: H5971 But because the LORD H3068 loved H160 you, and because he would keep H8104 the oath H7621 which he had sworn H7650 unto your fathers, H1 hath the LORD H3068 brought you out H3318 with a mighty H2389 hand, H3027 and redeemed H6299 you out of the house H1004 of bondmen, H5650 from the hand H3027 of Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt. H4714
That I may see H7200 the good H2896 of thy chosen, H972 that I may rejoice H8055 in the gladness H8057 of thy nation, H1471 that I may glory H1984 with thine inheritance. H5159
Fear H3372 not, thou worm H8438 Jacob, H3290 and ye men H4962 of Israel; H3478 I will help H5826 thee, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and thy redeemer, H1350 the Holy One H6918 of Israel. H3478
Yet now hear, H8085 O Jacob H3290 my servant; H5650 and Israel, H3478 whom I have chosen: H977 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 that made H6213 thee, and formed H3335 thee from the womb, H990 which will help H5826 thee; Fear H3372 not, O Jacob, H3290 my servant; H5650 and thou, Jesurun, H3484 whom I have chosen. H977
Ye G5210 have G1586 not G3756 chosen G1586 me, G3165 but G235 I G1473 have chosen G1586 you, G5209 and G2532 ordained G5087 you, G5209 that G2443 ye G5210 should go G5217 and G2532 bring forth G5342 fruit, G2590 and G2532 that your G5216 fruit G2590 should remain: G3306 that G2443 whatsoever G3739 G302 G3748 ye shall ask G154 of the Father G3962 in G1722 my G3450 name, G3686 he may give it G1325 you. G5213
Who G3748 are G1526 Israelites; G2475 to whom G3739 pertaineth the adoption, G5206 and G2532 the glory, G1391 and G2532 the covenants, G1242 and G2532 the giving of the law, G3548 and G2532 the service G2999 of God, and G2532 the promises; G1860 Whose G3739 are the fathers, G3962 and G2532 of G1537 whom G3739 as concerning G2596 the flesh G4561 Christ G5547 came, who G5607 is over G1909 all, G3956 God G2316 blessed G2128 for G1519 ever. G165 Amen. G281 Not G3756 as G3634 though G1161 G3754 the word G3056 of God G2316 hath taken none effect. G1601 For G1063 they are not G3756 all G3956 G1537 Israel, G2474 which G3588 G3778 are of Israel: G2474 Neither, G3761 because G3754 they are G1526 the seed G4690 of Abraham, G11 are they all G3956 children: G5043 but, G235 In G1722 Isaac G2464 shall G2564 thy G4671 seed G4690 be called. G2564 That is, G5123 They which are the children G5043 of the flesh, G4561 these G5023 are not G3756 the children G5043 of God: G2316 but G235 the children G5043 of the promise G1860 are counted G3049 for G1519 the seed. G4690 For G1063 this G3778 is the word G3056 of promise, G1860 At G2596 this G5126 time G2540 will I come, G2064 and G2532 Sara G4564 shall have G2071 a son. G5207 And G1161 not G3756 only G3440 this; but G235 when Rebecca G4479 also G2532 had conceived G2845 by G1537 one, G1520 G2192 even by our G2257 father G3962 Isaac; G2464 (For G1063 the children being G1080 not yet G3380 born, G1080 neither G3366 having done G4238 any G5100 good G18 or G2228 evil, G2556 that G2443 the purpose G4286 of God G2316 according G2596 to election G1589 might stand, G3306 not G3756 of G1537 works, G2041 but G235 of G1537 him that calleth;) G2564 G3754 It was said G4483 unto her, G846 The elder G3187 shall serve G1398 the younger. G1640 As G2531 it is written, G1125 Jacob G2384 have I loved, G25 but G1161 Esau G2269 have I hated. G3404 What G5101 shall we say G2046 then? G3767 G3361 Is there unrighteousness G93 with G3844 God? G2316 God forbid. G3361 G1096 For G1063 he saith G3004 to Moses, G3475 I will have mercy on G1653 whom G3739 G302 I will have mercy, G1653 and G2532 I will have compassion G3627 on whom G3739 G302 I will have compassion. G3627 So G686 then G3767 it is not G3756 of him that willeth, G2309 nor G3761 of him that runneth, G5143 but G235 of God G2316 that sheweth mercy. G1653 For G1063 the scripture G1124 saith G3004 unto Pharaoh, G5328 Even for G3754 G1519 this G5124 same purpose G846 have I raised G1825 thee G4571 up, G1825 that G3704 I might shew G1731 my G3450 power G1411 in G1722 thee, G4671 and G2532 that G3704 my G3450 name G3686 might be declared G1229 throughout G1722 all G3956 the earth. G1093 Therefore G686 G3767 hath he mercy G1653 on whom G3739 he will G2309 have mercy, and G1161 whom G3739 he will G2309 he hardeneth. G4645 Thou wilt say G2046 then G3767 unto me, G3427 Why G5101 doth he yet G2089 find fault? G3201 For G1063 who G5101 hath resisted G436 his G846 will? G1013 Nay but, G3304 O G5599 man, G444 who G5101 art G1488 thou G4771 that repliest against G470 God? G2316 G3361 Shall G2046 the thing formed G4110 say G2046 to him that formed G4111 it, Why G5101 hast thou made G4160 me G3165 thus? G3779 G2228 Hath G2192 not G3756 the potter G2763 power G1849 over the clay, G4081 of G1537 the same G846 lump G5445 to G3739 G3303 make G4160 one vessel G4632 unto G1519 honour, G5092 and G1161 another G3739 unto G1519 dishonour? G819 What if G1487 G1161 God, G2316 willing G2309 to shew G1731 his wrath, G3709 and G2532 to make G1107 his G846 power G1415 known, G1107 endured G5342 with G1722 much G4183 longsuffering G3115 the vessels G4632 of wrath G3709 fitted G2675 to G1519 destruction: G684 And G2532 that G2443 he might make known G1107 the riches G4149 of his G846 glory G1391 on G1909 the vessels G4632 of mercy, G1656 which G3739 he had afore prepared G4282 unto G1519 glory, G1391 G3739 Even G2532 us, G2248 whom G3739 he hath called, G2564 not G3756 of G1537 the Jews G2453 only, G3440 but G235 also G2532 of G1537 the Gentiles? G1484 As he saith G3004 also G2532 in G1722 Osee, G5617 I will call G2564 them my G3450 people, G2992 which were not G3756 my G3450 people; G2992 and G2532 her beloved, G25 which was G25 not G3756 beloved. G25 And G2532 it shall come to pass, G2071 that in G1722 the place G5117 where G3757 G3739 it was said G4483 unto them, G846 Ye G5210 are not G3756 my G3450 people; G2992 there G1563 shall they be called G2564 the children G5207 of the living G2198 God. G2316 Esaias G2268 also G1161 crieth G2896 concerning G5228 Israel, G2474 Though G1437 the number G706 of the children G5207 of Israel G2474 be G5600 as G5613 the sand G285 of the sea, G2281 a remnant G2640 shall be saved: G4982 For G1063 he will finish G4931 the work, G3056 and G2532 cut it short G4932 in G1722 righteousness: G1343 because G3754 a short G4932 work G3056 will G4160 the Lord G2962 make G4160 upon G1909 the earth. G1093 And G2532 as G2531 Esaias G2268 said before, G4280 Except G1508 the Lord G2962 of Sabaoth G4519 had left G1459 us G2254 a seed, G4690 we had been G302 G1096 as G5613 Sodoma, G4670 and G2532 been made like G302 G3666 unto G5613 Gomorrha. G1116
But G1161 ye G5210 are a chosen G1588 generation, G1085 a royal G934 priesthood, G2406 an holy G40 nation, G1484 a peculiar G1519 G4047 people; G2992 that G3704 ye should shew forth G1804 the praises G703 of him who hath called G2564 you G5209 out of G1537 darkness G4655 into G1519 his G846 marvellous G2298 light: G5457
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 105
Commentary on Psalms 105 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 105
Ps 105:1-45. After an exhortation to praise God, addressed especially to the chosen people, the writer presents the special reason for praise, in a summary of their history from the calling of Abraham to their settlement in Canaan, and reminds them that their obedience was the end of all God's gracious dealings.
1. call … name—(Ps 79:6; Ro 10:13). Call on Him, according to His historically manifested glory. After the example of Abraham, who, as often as God acquired for Himself a name in guiding him, called in solemn worship upon the name of the Lord (Ge 12:8; 13:4).
among the people—or, "peoples" (Ps 18:49).
deeds—or, "wonders" (Ps 103:7).
3, 4. Seeking God's favor is the only true mode of getting true happiness, and His strength [Ps 105:4] is the only true source of protection (compare Ps 32:11; 40:16).
Glory … name—boast in His perfections. The world glories in its horses and chariots against the Church of God lying in the dust; but our hope is in the name, that is, the power and love of God to His people, manifested in past deliverances.
5, 6. judgments … mouth—His judicial decisions for the good and against the wicked.
6. chosen—rather qualifies "children" than "Jacob," as a plural.
7. Rather, "He, Jehovah, is our God." His title, "Jehovah," implies that He, the unchangeable, self-existing Being, makes things to be, that is, fulfils His promises, and therefore will not forsake His people. Though specially of His people, He is God over all.
8-11. The covenant was often ratified.
word—answering to "covenant" [Ps 105:9] in the parallel clause, namely, the word of promise, which, according to Ps 105:10, He set forth for an inviolable law.
commanded—or, "ordained" (Ps 68:28).
to a thousand generations—perpetually. A verbal allusion to De 7:9 (compare Ex 20:6).
9. Which covenant—or, "Word" (Ps 105:8).
10, 11. Alluding to God's promise to Jacob (Ge 28:13). Out of the whole storehouse of the promises of God, only one is prominently brought forward, namely, that concerning the possession of Canaan [Ps 105:11]. Everything revolves around this. The wonders and judgments have all for their ultimate design the fulfilment of this promise.
12-15. few … in number—alluding to Jacob's words (Ge 34:30), "I being few in number."
yea, very few—literally, "as a few," that is, like fewness itself (compare Isa 1:9).
strangers—sojourners in the land of their future inheritance, as in a strange country (Heb 11:9).
13. from one nation to another—and so from danger to danger; now in Egypt, now in the wilderness, and lastly in Canaan. Though a few strangers, wandering among various nations, God protected them.
14. reproved kings—Pharaoh of Egypt and Abimelech of Gerar (Ge 12:17; 20:3).
15. Touch not—referring to Ge 26:11, where Abimelech says of Isaac, "He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death."
mine anointed—as specially consecrated to Me (Ps 2:2). The patriarch was the prophet, priest, and king of his family.
my prophets—in a similar sense, compare Ge 20:7. The "anointed" are those vessels of God, consecrated to His service, "in whom (as Pharaoh said of Joseph, Ge 41:38) the Spirit of God is" [Hengstenberg].
16. God ordered the famine. God
called for a famine—as if it were a servant, ready to come at God's bidding. Compare the centurion's words, as to disease being God's servant (Mt 8:8, 9).
upon the land—namely, Canaan (Ge 41:54).
staff of bread—what supports life (Le 26:26; Ps 104:15; Isa 3:1).
17-21. Joseph was sent of God (Ge 45:5).
18. hurt with fetters—(Ge 40:3).
was laid in iron—literally, "his soul" (see on Ps 16:10), or, "he came into iron," or, he was bound to his grief (compare Ps 3:2; 11:1). The "soul" is put for the whole person, because the soul of the captive suffers still more than the body. Joseph is referred to as being an appropriate type of those "bound in affliction and iron" (Ps 107:10).
19. his word came—His prophecy (Ge 41:11-20) to the officers came to pass, or was fulfilled (Jud 13:12, 17; 1Sa 9:6, explain the form of speech).
the word of the Lord—or, "saying," or "decree of the Lord."
tried him—or, "proved him," by the afflictions it appointed him to endure before his elevation (compare Ge 41:40-43).
22. To bind—Not literally bind; but exercise over them absolute control, as the parallel in the second clause shows; also Ge 41:40, 44, in which not literal fettering, but commanding obedience, is spoken of. It refers to Ps 105:18. The soul that was once bound itself now binds others, even princes. The same moral binding is assigned to the saints (Ps 149:8).
teach … senators wisdom—the ground of his exaltation by Pharaoh was his wisdom (Ge 41:39); namely, in state policy, and ordering well a kingdom.
23-25. Israel … and Jacob—that is, Jacob himself is meant, as Ps 105:24 speaks of "his people." Still, he came with his whole house (Ge 46:6, 7).
sojourned—(Ge 47:4).
land of Ham—or, Egypt (Ps 78:51).
25. turned their heart—God controls men's free acts (compare 1Sa 10:9). "When Saul had turned his back to go from (God's prophet) Samuel, God turned (Margin) him another heart" (see Ex 1:8, &c.). Whatever evil the wicked man plots against God's people, God holds bound even his heart, so as not to lay a single plan except what God permits. Thus Isaiah (Isa 43:17) says it was God who brought forth the army of Pharaoh to pursue Israel to their own destruction (Ex 4:21; 7:3).
26. Moses … chosen—both what they were by divine choice (Ps 78:70).
27. signs—literally, "words of signs," or rather, as "words" in Hebrew means "things," "things of His signs," that is, His marvellous tokens of power (Ps 145:5, Margin). Compare the same Hebraism (Ps 65:3, Margin).
28-36. The ninth plague is made prominent as peculiarly wonderful.
they rebelled not—Moses and Aaron promptly obeyed God (Heb 11:27); (compare Ex 7:1-11:10 and Ps 78:44-51, with which this summary substantially agrees). Or, rather, the "darkness" here is figurative (Jer 13:16), the literal plague of darkness (Ex 10:22, 23) being only alluded to as the symbol of God's wrath which overhung Egypt as a dark cloud during all the plagues. Hence, it is placed first, out of the historical order. Thus, "They rebelled not (that is, no longer) against His word," refers to the Egyptians. Whenever God sent a plague on them, they were ready to let Israel go, though refusing when the plague ceased.
his word—His command to let Israel go [Hengstenberg]. Of the ten plagues, only eight are mentioned, the fifth, the murrain of beasts, and the sixth, the boils, being omitted.
29-31. He deprived them of their favorite "fish," and gave them instead, [Ps 105:30] out of the water, loathsome "frogs," and (Ps 105:31) upon their land tormenting "flies" (the dog-fly, according to Maurer) and "lice" (gnats, according to Hengstenberg).
32. gave them—referring to Le 26:4, "I give you rain in due season." His "gift" to Israel's foes is one of a very different kind from that bestowed on His people.
hail for rain—instead of fertilizing showers, hail destructive to trees. This forms the transition to the vegetable kingdom. The locusts in Ps 105:34 similarly are destructive to plants.
33. their coasts—all their land (Ps 78:54).
34. caterpillars—literally, "the lickers up," devouring insects; probably the hairy-winged locust.
36. the chief—literally, "the firstlings." The ascending climax passes from the food of man to man himself. The language here is quoted from Ps 78:51.
37. with silver and gold—presented them by the Egyptians, as an acknowledgment due for their labors in their bondage (compare Ex 12:35).
one feeble person—or, "stumbler," unfit for the line of march. Compare "harnessed," that is, accoutred and marshalled as an army on march (Ex 13:18; Isa 5:27).
38. (Compare Ex 12:33; De 11:25).
39. covering—in sense of protection (compare Ex 13:21; Nu 10:34). In the burning sands of the desert the cloud protected the congregation from the heat of the sun; an emblem of God's protecting favor of His people, as interpreted by Isaiah (Isa 4:5, 6; compare Nu 9:16).
42-45. The reasons for these dealings: (1) God's faithfulness to His covenant, "His holy promise" of Canaan, is the fountain whence flowed so many acts of marvellous kindness to His people (compare Ps 105:8, 11). Ex 2:24 is the fundamental passage [Hengstenberg]. (2) That they might be obedient. The observance of God's commands by Abraham was the object of the covenant with him (Ge 18:19), as it was also the object of the covenant with Israel, that they might observe God's statutes.
remembered … and Abraham—or, "remembered His holy word (that is, covenant confirmed) with Abraham."
44. inherited the labour—that is, the fruits of their labor; their corn and vineyards (Jos 21:43-45).