Psalms 105:1-45

Psalm PSALM—NOTE ON Psalms 105:1. Psalms 105:1 is a historical psalm, like Psalms 78:1 and Psalms 106:1. It is a celebration of God’s faithful dealings with his people. It particularly remembers episodes from the Pentateuch in which the people interacted with powerful foreigners who might have harmed them: Abimelech (Genesis 20:1), Potiphar (Genesis 39:1), and Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1). The tone of Psalms 105:1 is one of gratitude (vv. Psalms 105:1). Each member of the singing congregation should recognize that he has benefited from all these great deeds that God has done. Each one should embrace his calling to live as a member of God’s holy people (vv. Psalms 105:43). Verses Psalms 105:28 recount eight of the 10 plagues sent upon the Egyptians, leaving out the fifth and sixth (Exodus 9:1). The psalm mentions the ninth plague first (Psalms 105:28), and has the third and fourth in reverse order (v. Psalms 105:31). The psalm focuses on events in the Exodus 1:1 story that display God’s faithfulness.