Sabbath, July 20 – Psalms 105, 132

1. How did God protect His anointed ones and His prophets when they were few in the land? (Psalm 105:15)

2. What reason does verse 17 give for Joseph being sold as an enslaved person? (Psalm 105:17)

3. What desire of David is mentioned in Psalm 132:3-5?

Commentary and Reflection:

Psalm 105 is a beautiful praise to The Lord. It begins with imperatives that we do well to follow:

“Praise the Lord”
“Make known His deeds”
“Sing to Him”
“Speak of all His wonders”
“Glory in His Holy Name”
“Seek His face always”
“Remember the wonders He has done”

God’s people are called to fulfill these commands.

This psalm recounts the history of God’s people, from establishing the covenant with Abraham to conquering the Promised Land. The Adventist Bible Commentary states:

“Ps. 105 is a national hymn of Israel (see Ps. 78; Ps. 106). It illustrates God’s dealings with Israel from the times of Abraham and his descendants down to the conquest of Canaan, with emphasis on the covenant relationship between God and Israel, in the hymn Joseph is presented as the connecting link between Egypt and Canaan. The antique meter of the hymn marches on in a succession of joyous couplets, majestic in their simple parallelism.

Verses 1-15 of this psalm are practically identical to vs. 8-22 of the psalm recorded in 1 Chron. 16:8-36 that David composed for the ceremony of enshrining the ark in Jerusalem. Variations from the original form of the psalm are probably accounted for by adaptation for liturgical use at a later date.”  Adventist Bible Commentary, Introduction to Psalm 105

All the wonders God did for His people recounted in this psalm were done for one reason: “For He remembered His holy promise, And Abraham, His servant. (Psalm 105:42). Praise God, for He is faithful to His Word! He is faithful to the Covenant.

He performed all these wonders with Israel, not so they would imitate the nations of Canaan, but so they would be His special people, “that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws.” (Psalm 105:45). It is our privilege to live as God’s people by living according to His commandments. This distinguishes us among the nations and peoples.

Regarding Psalm 132, the Adventist Bible Commentary notes:

“Ps. 132 is a song commemorating David’s desire to build a house of worship and the Lord’s gracious promises to the shepherd king (see 2 Sam. 7:1-13; IT 203).” Adventist Bible Commentary, Introduction to Psalm 132

The “Songs of Ascents” or “Songs of Degrees” were songs sung by the people during their pilgrimages to the festivals in Jerusalem.

As we go about our day, let us sing joyfully to The Lord because He has done marvelous things.

May the peace of God fill your soul.