Psalms 105:16

Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread. -The circumstances leading to the bringing of the heirs of the promise into Egypt. The Providence of God, so far from allowing the promise to come to nought through this, overruled it to become the very means of accomplishing it (, end; 50:20, "As for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good"). Verse 16. MOREOVER HE CALLED FOR A FAMINE (cf. ) - as a master calls for a servant ready to do his bidding. On the contrary, God says, , "I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you." Compare the centurion's words as to sickness being Christ's servant, ready to come or go at His call...

16._And he called a famine upon the land _Here the inspired writer recounts a most illustrious proof of divine providence towards the chosen people, at the time when the covenant might seem to be void and disannulled. The inheritance of the land of Canaan (as has been stated above) was added, as an earnest or pledge for confirmation. The descent of Jacob into Egypt, which deprived his house of the sight of the land, could not make the covenant to perish. In this the constancy of God shone forth the brighter; yea, by this trial he manifested more plainly how provident a father he was in preserving the seed of Abraham. But it is better to consider each particular in the verse. In the first place, it is taught, that the famine which drove Jacob into Egypt did not happen by chance. Although only one particular famine is here treated of, it is to be held as a general principle, that there is...

8-23 Let us remember the Redeemer's marvellous works, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. Though true Christians are few number, strangers and pilgrims upon earth, yet a far better inheritance than Canaan is made sure to them by the covenant of God; and if we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, none can do us any harm. Afflictions are among our mercies. They prove our faith and love, they humble our pride, they wean us from the world, and quicken our prayers. Bread is the staff which supports life; when that staff is broken, the body fails and sinks to the earth. The word of God is the staff of spiritual life, the food and support of the soul: the sorest judgment is a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. Such a famine was sore in all lands when Christ appeared in the flesh; whose coming, and the blessed effect of it, are shadowed forth in the history of Joseph. At the app...

MOREOVER, HE CALLED FOR A FAMINE UPON THE LAND - It was not by chance; not by the mere operation of physical laws, but it was because God “ordered” it. The famine here referred to, as the connection shows, was that which occurred in the time of Jacob, and which was the occasion of the migration into Egypt. There was also a famine in the time of Abraham Genesis 12:10; but the design of the psalmist here is to refer to that period of the Jewish history which pertained to their residence in Egypt, and to the dealings of God with the nation when there, as furnishing an occasion for gratitude. Genesis 41; Genesis 42. HE BRAKE THE WHOLE STAFF OF BREAD - That which suppor

EXPOSITION This is sometimes called a "Hallelujah psalm," since it ends with that phrase. It is a song of praise to God for his dealings with his people, resembling in its general character Psalms 78:1. The opening passage is nearly identical with 1 Chronicles 16:8, and is thought to have been the original from which that passage was taken (Hengstenberg, Cheyne). The first six verse are an exhortation to praise, and constitute the "introduction." The remainder is an account of God's mercies to Israel as a nation, traced historically from the time of the covenant with Abraham to the occupation of the land of Canaan. The "introduction" forms a strophe by itself. It is usual to divide the historical portion into strophes; but this can only be done arbitrarily, there being no r

MOREOVER, HE CALLED FOR A FAMINE UPON THE LAND,.... On the land of Egypt; or rather on the land of Canaan, where Jacob and his sons sojourned; and which reached to all lands, Genesis 41:56 and calling for it, it came, being a servant at the command of the Lord; see 2 Kings 8:1. HE BRAKE THE WHOLE STAFF OF BREAD; so called, because it is the support of man's life, the principal of his sustenance: as a staff is a support to a feeble person, and which, when broke, ceases to be so. The staff of bread is broken, when either the virtue and efficacy of it for nourishment is taken away or denied; or when there is a scarcity of bread corn; which latter seems to be intended here; see Isaiah 3:1....

Psalms 105 AND 106 The Memories of the Past The last two Psalms of this fourth section review the entire history of Israel up to the time of the judges. It is the story of God's faithfulness and mercy, and the story of their shameful failure and apostasy. He is ever mindful of His covenant, and that covenant is mentioned first, as the foundation of all. Then how He watched over them. The story of Joseph is mentioned, followed by the rehearsal of the deliverance out of Egypt. Psalms 106:1 is couched in words of confession, showing their failure all the way, sinning, forgetting, lusting, unbelieving and disobedient. Only infinite mercy and grace could save such a people. Prophetically these Psalms express the repentance and national confession of Israel, when the Lord has saved them. Then with a new

CV. HEBREW HISTORY FROM ABRAHAM TO JOSHUA. Psalms 105:1. Introductory. An invitation to praise God. Psalms 105:7. The covenant and promise of Canaan. Psalms 105:12. Yahweh's kindness to the Patriarchs. PSALMS 105:12. NUMBER: read perhaps, Canaan. Psalms 105:14. kings: notably Pharaoh and Abimelech of Gerar. Psalms 105:15. mine anointed ones, _i.e._ the Patriarchs who were gr

PSALMS 105 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Hymn of Praise to Jehovah for Giving Israel a Covenant Land in which to Observe His Law. ANALYSIS The Main Design of this Psalm is clearly to Endear the Land to the People for whom it was designed, that therein they should Observe Jehovah's Law. To attain this end the History of their First Fathers is traced as Circling Round this Land, and then the Steps are Traced by which the Nation was Brought Into the Land to Dwell There. (P.R.I.) Praise ye Yah![404] [404] That is, Public Reader's Invitation. There can hardly be a doubt, says Ginsburg, that this [a sentence and not a mere single word] exhibits the primitive reading. Ginsburg further expresses the confident conclusion that the phrase was originally the prelector's [the public reader'S] invitation to the worshipers to join in the public responses.Gn. Intro., pp. 375-81. H

This Ps. and the following one form a closely connected pair, and may be looked on as by the same author. From the closing vv. of Psalms 106 it appears that they were written after the first return from exile had taken place, but while many Israelites were still scattered among the heathen. Both Pss. are partly wrought into the composite poem in 1 Chronicles 16; Psalms 105 is a song of thanksgiving, recalling with gratitude God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Psalms 105:8), His guidance of Israel into Egypt, with special reference to the history of Joseph ...