Canon Rob's Reflections

This is a hymn of praise for all that God has done for His people and begins: “O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples.” Not only are the people to thank God but they are also to share the good news with others. Rather like a call to Christian mission! The author of the entire psalm recalls great events throughout Israel’s history, mentioning Abraham in the earlier verses and ending with the time the people entered the Promised Land. The nine verses set for the Eucharist today though are concerned with God’s care during the period of wandering in the wilderness after freedom from Egypt had been granted. [Interestingly, whilst this psalm celebrates God’s faithfulness, Psalm 106 focuses on the unfaithfulness of His people.]


Verse 37 is emphatic that it is by God’s action that the people were freed from slavery in Egypt. “Then he brought them out with silver and gold; there was not one among their tribes that stumbled.” Mention of silver and gold refers to the Israelites plundering the Egyptians as they were about to begin their journey in the wilderness. As verse 38 of the psalm says, the Egyptians were “glad at their departing, for a dread of them had fallen upon them.” This followed the final plague when, “the Lord struck down every first-born in Egypt..” [See Exodus 12.27-36.] Earlier in the Book of Exodus, God had told Moses to ask Pharaoh to let the people go but he refused. So, Pharaoh would suffer as a consequence. “Then tell Pharaoh that these are the words of the Lord: ‘Israel is my first-born son. I have told you to let my son go, so that he may worship me. You have refused to let him go, so I will kill your first-born son.’” (Exodus 4.22 and 22. New English Bible.]


The journey through the wilderness was very long and arduous and, at times, the people bitterly complained to Moses wondering why God had brought them into this dry and barren land to die. But God showed that He was with them all the way. “He spread out a cloud for a covering and a fire to light up the night. [See Exodus 13.20-22]. They asked and he brought them quails; he satisfied them with the bread of heaven. [See Exodus 16.11-15]. He opened the rock and the waters gushed out and ran in the dry places like a river. [See Exodus 17.1-7]. For he remembered his holy word and Abraham, his servant.” [Verses 39 – 42.] It all reads rather like a short history lesson and that is what Psalm 105 is! All those reading it will have known their story and rejoiced in recalling it, and when reciting it during worship, will have joined with others who praised God for His goodness.


In the closing verses of today’s psalm, the people of Israel receive the Promised Land from God who has rescued them. The Exodus saw the fulfilment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, ‘the father of a host of nations,’ many years before. [See Genesis 15.13-21 and Genesis 17.1-8.] It is no wonder then that in verse 43 of the psalm we read, “So he brought forth his people with joy, his chosen ones with singing.” They occupied a land which others had lived in and cultivated and they took over the homes, water supplies and vineyards believing it to be the will of God who had kept His promise. Yet, the final verses show that a condition was attached to their inheritance. The people were to obey God’s commands. “He gave them the lands of the nations and they took possession of the fruit of their toil, That they might keep his statutes and faithfully observe his laws. Alleluia.” That would be easier to read and say than to do, as many references in the Old Testament show. But, for now, there is much cause for rejoicing. As always, it is difficult to date Psalm 105. However, it was possibly composed when the people returned from Exile in Babylon in the 6th Century BC and served as a reminder of what they had gone through in their past.