THE LORD’S BLESSING ON HIS COVENANT PEOPLE (Psalm 105) by Trish Reimer

Observation and Interpretation:  It is interesting to note that the first 15 verses of Psalm 105 are also echoed in I Chronicles 16:8-22. Although there are a few word changes, I challenge you to compare the two. 

The first few verses call us to worship the Lord, seek Him and remember His great works (4-6). God’s care and protection under the patriarchs, first with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob show that even few in number, God promised to protect them (verses 13-15).  Then came famine and God provided more care in the form of Joseph (verses 16-22).  God continued to preserve Israel in Egypt through Jacob and his family moving there.  However, because they “increased greatly”, they soon became stronger than the people of Egypt, so the Egyptians enslaved the Israelites (verses 23-25).  Over 400 years in slavery and then…Salvation!  Moses (the champion of God) rose up and through God sent 10 plagues into the land of Egypt.  Do you know what they are?  Do you remember from Sunday School?  If not, here’s a brief summary…blood, frogs, bugs (lice and gnats), wild animals (or flies), pestilence of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and death of the first born (verses 26-36).  I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I would have wanted to live through all of that and not ask “Why?”  Do you think there were some Egyptians that might have asked Moses what they could do to prevent all this?  Interesting thing to ponder….

More salvation!  God delivered them from their oppressors (verses 37-41) and provided them with all they would need. He sent them a cloud by day and fire at night to protect them.  He gave them meat, manna and water when He opened the rock.  Finally He brought Israel into the land of Canaan as He promised (verses 42-45) and gave them all He promised.  Much praise to the Lord!

However, in Psalm 106 after this psalm of praise, it speaks of the sad story of rebellion on the part of His people (read Lynne McCarthy’s insights on this psalm).
 
Application:  Let’s focus on verse 4…”Seek the Lord”.  What does it mean to seek?  It means living intentionally with reliance on Christ.  Do we do this daily?  My husband David often calls me a “control aficionado”.  That is not a compliment, but I must agree with him.  As the “matriarch” of the family, for 43 years I felt that it has been my role to make sure that everyone in my family is safe, secure and happy.  As my physical abilities are more and more hampered, I must rely on my family to help me with certain tasks.  So it is with our relationship with God.  Are we pushing Him aside and trying to do things on our own, or are we relying (seeking) on Him to do the best for our lives? 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to remember all the promises that you have given us in Your Word and help us to seek Your face, not just for today, but for all our lives.  In Christ’s name, Amen.

Song:  Proclaim the Glory of the Lord (Steve Green)