Pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, ancient and eternal King, in You may my dwelling be.
Read:
Psalm 105:1-45
Meditate
Consider: This is a psalm celebrating the covenant faithfulness of our God. We can rejoice that the covenant reached its completion through the work of Christ.
Think Further:
This is the first of three consecutive psalms structured on detailed historical narrative, with this and Psalm 106 arranged in such a way as to suggest an overlapping sequence. The psalm begins with Abraham and ends with the Sinai covenant, concentrating on God's gracious oversight and directing of Israel's national history. Note that their history is not just the story of their journey through time but is rich in theology, of God's character and his dealings with them and action on their behalf. Individuals feature very much within this, with their destinies entwined with that of their nation. What the Bible portrays as God's care for the history of the whole people of Israel is shown also to be at work in the life and destiny of a single man, Joseph (16-22). This is powerfully summed up in the words, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Gen. 50:20).
Beginning and ending with praise, the psalmist exhorts us to speak out God's mighty acts, rejoicing as we seek after him. Celebration of his past saving acts and ongoing dependence upon him belong together. And although the Bible never glosses over human frailty and sinful disobedience, and there was plenty of this at work in the period covered by this psalm, the focus here is repeatedly upon God's providential activity. His intervention through acts of nature is graphically described, as is his changing of the minds of influential people and provision of spiritual leaders when they are most needed.
The importance of deliberately remembering what God has done is a powerful theme throughout the Bible. To do so can provide comfort in sad times, hope when tempted to despair, and encouragement to trust God with an uncertain future.
Apply: Draw a timeline covering the past year or longer. Write on it key Scriptures and words, important events and other evidence of God's activity. Thank him.
Pray:
Thank You, Lord. You have comforted me in sad times, given me hope when I have been tempted to despair, and encouraged me to trust You for the future.
