Sermons
Study of Historical Psalms
2 Study of Historical Psalms
God’s Covenant With Abraham
Psa. 105:1-7
Introduction:
1. In a previous lesson consideration was given to Psa. 78. That Psalm rehearses our history, the history of the people of God. Emphasis was placed on the unfaithfulness of our forefathers, and the need of communicating God to the generations to come.
2. We learned that even when our forefathers were unfaithful that God was compassionate and forgiving.
3. He blessed with deliverance from Egypt, with choosing Judah and shepherding our forefathers through His servant David. So this Psalm highlights God’s activity among His people from Egypt to David.
4. Psa. 105 is another of the “historical Psalms.” It traces our history from Abraham to the giving of the land of Canaan. The focus is on God’s covenantal loyalty and providential care in granting us the land that He promised.
Discussion:
I. Verses 1-7 is a call to praise or worship. It is particular in revealing to us what it means to praise God.
A. It involves giving thanks (1a).
B. Making known His deeds among the peoples (1b).
C. It includes singing praises to Him (2).
D. Glorying in His name (boasting about Him) (3a).
E. Seeking the Lord in gladness (3b-4).
F. Remembering His wonders (5) and His judgments (5-6).
G. As you evaluate your own worship, does it not involve these various elements?
Thanks, communicating His deeds to others, singing, boasting about Him, seeking Him
in gladness, remembering and even rehearsing His judgments as we study His word to
us. These are not just items to be “gone through” by rote, but genuine acts of love,
devotion and respect to God.
H. But note the need of “remembering His wonders and judgments.” Like Psalm 78 there
is this call to remember.
II. God has been faithful to His covenant (8-44).
A. God made a covenant forever with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Israel (8-10).
1. Gen. 17:1-22 speaks of it as an everlasting covenant.
a. It was for Abraham and his descendants.
b. It included the inheritance of the land of Canaan.
c. It involved circumcision as the mark of separation from the world and the mark
of joining to God (9-14).
2. Gen. 12:1-3 identifies different elements of the relationship.
a. Land.
b. Nation.
c. Blessing on all the families of the earth. Psa. 105:10 goes as far as to include
Israel, but that is as far as that record goes.
B. The Psalm takes us from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Israel, as a few men in number
wandering about (11-15) to Joseph (16-23).
C. From Joseph providing for the people in Egypt the Psalmist reminds of the people
becoming very fruitful and becoming stronger than their adversaries (24). And then
he tells of God sending Moses (26-38). The emphasis, like in Psa. 78, is on what God
did. Read verses 26-38 with emphasis on what God did!
D. God’s presence was made known amongst them by a cloud during the day and fire
during the night. God feed them and watered them remembering the word He spoke
to Abraham. He brought them forth with joy and gave them the lands of the nations
and they took possession of the fruit of other peoples’ labor (39-44).
III. The appropriate response (45): faithfulness.
A. Keeping of His statutes and observance of His laws.
B. Praise!
Conclusion:
1. What is the Psalmist trying to get us to do? To remember what God has done for us, to remember His faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham. He would have us see ourselves as the descendants of Abraham. He wants us to understand who we are and to identify not just with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He wants us to see ourselves as God’s people, the recipients of His special blessings.
2. He wants us to keep God’s statutes and to observe His laws.
3. He wants us to worship God.
