Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 105:42
For he remembered his holy promise, [and] Abraham his servant.
42. The Psalmist returns to his theme, Psa 105:8. Faithfulness to His promise was God’s motive for redeeming Israel.
his holy promise ] Lit., his holy word ( Psa 105:8): the sacred promise which cannot be broken.
and Abraham his servant ] Or, with A. his servant ( Psa 105:9). Cp. Exo 2:24. But the A.V. may be right.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For he remembered … – He was faithful to his promise made to Abraham, and did not forget his descendants in the hour of need. This is the statement made in Psa 105:8-9; and to illustrate and confirm the faithfulness of God, this reference is made to the history of the Hebrew people. See the notes at those verses.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Or rather, with (as this particle is oft used)
Abraham; made with or to Abraham.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
42-45. The reasons for thesedealings: (1) God’s faithfulness to His covenant, “His holypromise” of Canaan, is the fountain whence flowed so many actsof marvellous kindness to His people (compare Psa 105:8;Psa 105:11). Ex2:24 is the fundamental passage [HENGSTENBERG].(2) That they might be obedient. The observance of God’s commands byAbraham was the object of the covenant with him (Ge18:19), as it was also the object of the covenant with Israel,that they might observe God’s statutes.
remembered . . . andAbrahamor, “remembered His holy word (that is, covenantconfirmed) with Abraham.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For he remembered his holy promise,…. It was not owing to the goodness of this people, to their obedience to the divine will, to any worthiness or merit of theirs, that such signs and wonders were wrought for them in Egypt; and that they were brought out from thence in such a manner as they were; and were protected and so plentifully provided for in the wilderness; but it was owing to the grace and goodness of God, to his covenant and promise, which he sacredly and inviolably observed; the grace and covenant of God are the source and spring of all blessings of goodness; he is ever mindful of his covenant, and therefore sends meat to them that fear him, as he did to the Israelites, Ps 111:5.
And Abraham his servant; or the promise he made to Abraham his servant; so the Targum,
“which “was” with Abraham his servant;”
that is, which holy word or promise was with Abraham, was spoken to him; and was with him, that he would give him and his seed the land of Canaan; and that though they should be afflicted long in Egypt, yet should come out from thence with great substance, Ge 15:13, this he remembered, as he never forgets any promise of his, nor ever suffers his faithfulness to fail, nor his covenant to be broken. Hence it follows,
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
42. For he remembered his holy promise The Psalmist again mentions the cause why God dealt so graciously with that people, and sustained them so tenderly, namely, that he might fulfill his promise; for he had entered into a covenant with Abraham, engaging to be the God of his seed. Nor did the prophets without cause teach so carefully as we find them doing, that the free covenant is the fountain whence the deliverance, and the continual welfare of the people flowed. Thereby the grace of God became better known, since what took place, so far from happening upon the sudden, and without anticipation, was only the fulfillment of what he had promised four hundred years before. God then, for ages previous to this, gave the light of his word of promise, that his grace and truth might be brought the more distinctly into view. For this reason the prophet again repeats, that God was not led from some new cause to deliver his people, but that his design in doing so was to prove the faithfulness of his covenant, and to give it effect; just as if a man should dig up from the ground a treasure which he had buried in it. Nor is it to be doubted, that the prophet aimed at leading the faith of his countrymen still farther, — that his object was that their posterity might be persuaded beyond all doubt, that as God had then proved, in the experience of that generation, the sure and substantial truth of his promise delivered many hundred years before, so he would not be to them otherwise than their fathers had found him to be in times past. Accordingly, he signalises this promise by the epithet, holy, intimating, that after the death of Abraham it retained its virtue and efficacy unimpaired. God had spoken it to Abraham; but the force of the covenant died not with him. God continued to show himself faithful towards the posterity of the patriarch.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
42. This and the following verses form the conclusion of the psalm.
He remembered These wonders were in fulfilment of God’s covenant with Abraham, (Psa 105:8-11,) and in reward of the patriarch’s fidelity.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 105:42. His holy promise, and Abraham The word of his holiness with Abraham. See Psa 105:8-9.
REFLECTIONS.1st, Before the Psalmist enters on his subject, he prefaces his discourse with an exhortation to all around him,
1. To exalt and magnify the great and glorious God, and this in a variety of ways. Give him thanks for all his mercies past and present, and all his promises so rich and gracious. Call upon his name in humble faith, assured of being heard and answered: make known his deeds, what great things he has done for your souls and bodies, to encourage the hope, and excite the praises of all the righteous: talk ye of all his wondrous works, let them be the delightful daily subject of your conversation. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, in tongue as well as heart rejoice, ye that seek the Lord, as the grand object of your desires, and the rock of your hopes. Yea, glory in his holy name, renouncing all glorying in yourselves, to make mention only of his inestimably precious righteousness and grace. Seek the Lord and his strength, who alone can enable you to stand against your spiritual foes, and overcome them: seek his face evermore, in ceaseless prayer in this world, that you may behold the light of his countenance for ever in a better.
2. Abundant reason there is why we should thus do, if we consider, (1.) His past mercies, works of providence and grace, wonderful and great, such as Israel experienced in Egypt and the desart, and as the people of God daily find in their journey through this world’s wilderness; and the judgments of his mouth, his revealed word, according to which we must finally be judged, and which will bring upon us the heaviest condemnation, if we forget or neglect the great salvation therein contained. (2.) Our interest in him, as the Lord our God, our Jehovah, all-sufficient to supply every want of his people, worthy their most enlarged praise; and to engage them thereunto, offering himself to be their portion and exceeding great reward. (3.) His universal government, his judgments are in all the earth; and as the God of all the earth, he is most worthy to be obeyed and adored by all, and for ever: or it may refer to the judgments of his vengeance on the wicked, in the flood, in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, or in the plagues of Egypt; the fame of which were spread abroad, and God’s justice and holiness therein manifested; for which praise should be ascribed to him.
2nd, The grand subject of the Psalmist’s thanksgiving is, the covenant established in Christ Jesus.
1. God revealed it to Abraham; and, as the type of the eternal inheritance designed for his faithful spiritual children, assured him of the possession of the land of Canaan as the inheritance of his natural posterity.
2. He fulfilled the promise in opposition to all human appearances, notwithstanding the difficulties which seemed insurmountable. They were few, very few; strangers, not possessed of a foot of land; driven from place to place, sojourning sometimes in Egypt, sometimes in Philistia, on account of the famine; but, in all their wanderings, still they experienced the divine protection; restrained by divine power, none dared to lift their hand to hurt them; and even kings are reproved, and warned how dangerous it would be to touch God’s anointed ones, or harm his prophets. Note; (1.) The faithful people of God are indeed strangers and pilgrims upon earth, but God hath prepared for them a city: when their wanderings here below are ended, there remaineth for them an eternal rest. (2.) God’s prophets are his peculiar care; he who toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye, so jealous is he to vindicate their wrongs.
3. In the extraordinary case of Joseph, God, in a most astonishing providential manner, opened a way for the accomplishment of his designs of mercy towards them. He sent a famine on the land of Canaan, and brake the whole staff of bread, so that instant death and utter destruction seemed to threaten them; but he had made provision for their sustenance by means of Joseph, whom, though his envious brethren had wickedly sold for a slave, God had designed to send as their deliverer, after having experienced the deepest distresses, under the most cruel and unjust accusations of an enraged mistress; doomed to the lowest dungeon, bound in fetters of iron, and loaded with the most ignominious reproaches; but all wrought together for his good: when his faith and patience had been tried, God’s word came unto him; and, divinely taught to interpret the dreams of his fellow-prisoners, the fame of it reached the court of Pharaoh, who sought the inspired prisoner. Convinced, by his interpretation of his dreams, that God’s Spirit dwelt within him, the king loosed his bands, and vindicated his injured innocence from the accusations laid against him; advanced him to the highest post in his kingdom; delegated to him the exercise of his royal power to enact laws which all, even the greatest, must obey; and, wiser than the aged senators, appointed him their teacher, whence probably flowed the superior wisdom of the Egyptians. By him, his aged father and all his family were brought to Egypt, and in the land of Goshen richly provided for during the days of famine; where they increased exceedingly, and God’s promises began to take effect. Note; (1.) Mysterious are the ways of Providence. When all things seem most against us, they are often really working for our good. (2.) Joseph, in his humiliation and exaltation is the type of Jesus, whose sufferings far exceeded, and whose glory infinitely excelleth. (3.) In every advancement we must remember whose hand hath raised us, and that we only then adorn our station, when we seek to make it subservient to the advancement of his kingdom and glory. (4.) Whatever calumnies and sufferings the saints of God endure, when their faith is tried, they shall be discharged with honour. (5.) God’s church will never want a friend; he can raise them protectors where they least expect to find favour. (6.) We are sojourners on earth, as Jacob in that strange land: this is not our home nor our rest; nay, though never so much increased in worldly goods, we would not fit here below, but look for our promised Canaan, and long for our heavenly inheritance.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 105:42 For he remembered his holy promise, [and] Abraham his servant.
Ver. 42. For he remembered his holy promise ] Holy, that is, firm, and inviolable, Heb. the word of his holiness, that is, his sacred and gracious engagement, whereby he had made himself a voluntary debtor to Abraham’s posterity.
And Abraham his servant promise. Same word as in Psa 105:8, “word”.
Psa 105:42-44
Psa 105:42-44
ISRAEL ENTERS THE LAND OF CANAAN
“For he remembered his holy word,
And Abraham his servant.
And he brought forth his people with joy,
And his chosen with singing.
And he gave them the lands of the nations;
And they took the labors of the peoples in possession.”
The previous three verses were a summary of the forty-years in the wilderness; and these three verses condense the entire history of the Conquest of Canaan under Joshua into these few lines. The whole Book of Joshua is devoted to the record of what is here stated so briefly.
In context, the psalmist is here declaring, simply, that God who had promised to deliver the land of Canaan to the patriarchs actually did so, the four centuries intervening notwithstanding.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 105:42-45. These closing verses of the chapter are in the nature of a general summing up, hence I have grouped them into one paragraph. The Lord remembered means he had respect for the promise he had made to Abraham. That promise included all of the good things already done for the Israelites, as have been detailed in this chapter, and also the ones to come as indicated in this paragraph.
For he: Psa 105:8-11, Gen 12:7, Gen 13:14-17, Gen 15:14, Exo 2:24, Luk 1:54, Luk 1:55, Luk 1:72, Luk 1:73
Abraham: Exo 32:13, Deu 9:5, Deu 9:27, Mic 7:20
Reciprocal: Gen 15:7 – to give Gen 19:29 – that God Gen 30:22 – remembered Num 14:34 – ye shall Deu 7:8 – oath Psa 119:49 – Remember Isa 41:8 – thou Isa 44:1 – O Jacob Amo 2:10 – I brought Act 13:17 – God Gal 3:18 – but
Psa 105:42-45. For he remembered his holy promise They were unworthy and unthankful, yet he did these great things in their favour because he remembered his covenant, Psa 105:8, and his holy promise, and would not suffer one iota or tittle of it to fall to the ground. Therefore he brought forth his people with joy Rejoicing greatly that God had so wonderfully appeared for them, and delivered them from that state of cruel and intolerable bondage, under which they had so long groaned; and his chosen with gladness Hebrew, , berinnah, with shouting, or singing, to see the difference he made between them and the Egyptians; who were drowned in the Red sea, while they were conducted safe through it on dry land. And he gave them the lands of the heathen Put them in possession of the country which he had promised them, many centuries before they existed, casting out seven nations to make room for them in that land. And they inherited the labour of the people The fruits of their labour; the towns and cities which they had builded, and the vineyards and oliveyards which they had planted. That they might observe his statutes, &c. He put them in possession of Canaan, not that they might live in luxury and pleasure, in ease and honour, and be conspicuous and glorious among the nations; not that they should regard Canaan as their paradise, and look no further; but that, being rescued from their enemies, formed into a people, placed under Gods immediate government and protection, and settled in peace and plenty, they might improve the opportunity thus afforded them of serving the Lord their God, in a due attendance upon all his ordinances, and a diligent keeping of all his commandments; and of securing to themselves, through the obedience of faith, an inheritance in an other country, that is to say, a heavenly. And let all the children of the faithful Abraham, says Dr. Horne, whose lot hath fallen in a land flowing with milk and honey upon earth, reflect that God hath given them riches, and the leisure which riches procure, not for the purpose of indulging and corrupting themselves and others, but that they may glorify him, benefit their neighbours, and save their own souls; that they may observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Israel was delivered by Moses, and the church redeemed by Christ, that God might purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, Tit 2:14.
105:42 For he remembered his holy {x} promise, [and] Abraham his servant.
(x) Which he confirms to the posterity in whom after a sort the dead live and enjoy the promises.
3. Praise for God’s faithfulness 105:42-45
Again the psalmist reminded the reader of God remembering His unique promise to Abraham (cf. Psa 105:8). The Lord brought Abraham’s descendants into the Promised Land and dispossessed the Canaanite tribes. He even gave them food that the Canaanites had planted and cultivated. He did all this so the Israelites would obey His will for them and experience all the good things He had in store for them. The psalm closes with a final call to praise the Lord ("hallelujah").
A key word in this psalm is "remember" (Psa 105:5; Psa 105:8; Psa 105:42). By remembering how faithful God had been in remembering His promise to their patriarch, the Israelites would remember to praise Him. God’s people benefit from reviewing history because it reminds them of God’s faithfulness. This reminder encourages us who are New Testament believers to trust in His promises given to us. We, too, can see that He has been consistently faithful to His word throughout history.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)