Psalm 105 (104):24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Through this, it is demonstrated that their increase was not a result of natural circumstances but rather a fulfillment of God's promise. Even in the face of oppression, as the infants were cast into the river and nature itself was violated, their numbers grew, making them a formidable presence to the locals.

Hence, Pharaoh, who was familiar with Joseph, remarked, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we" (Ex. 1:9). Their strength and multiplication would not have occurred had Joseph not risen to power and gained favor with Pharaoh.

This Psalm is the first in a set that begins with the word Alleluia, which translates to “Praise the Lord.” Consequently, it opens with a call to praise: "Confess unto the Lord, and call upon His Name" (Psalm 103:1). This acknowledgment serves as a form of praise, mirroring the words of our Lord: “I confess unto Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25). Often, praise is followed by a heartfelt plea for God's assistance; even the Lord’s Prayer commences with a brief praise encapsulated in the phrase “Our Father, who is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). Following this invocation, we are led to announce His deeds, as stated, “Tell men what He has done” (John 21:17), or, more directly translated from the Greek in other Latin versions: “Preach the gospel of His works among the Gentiles.” This is addressed specifically to the evangelists in the prophecies.

“Sing unto Him and play instruments to Him” (Psalm 104:2). This is an invitation to praise Him through both words and actions. We raise our voices in song and use instruments, referencing our hands, to express our gratitude and recount His marvelous works. Let our conversations center around His wondrous deeds, glorifying His holy Name (Psalm 104:3). These verses effectively encapsulate the earlier exhortations: to let our dialogues reflect His magnificent acts signifies “Sing unto Him,” while “praise in His holy Name” can be connected to our verbal praises and instrumental worship. The act of praise should not elevate the individual, but rather, it should be in honor of the Lord, as emphasized in “that he who glories let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). This is truly to be glorified in His holy Name, as reflected in another Psalm: “My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.” Thus, it follows that the hearts of those who seek the Lord shall rejoice, for the humble, who do not engage in envy against those they aspire to emulate, will find joy.

“Seek the Lord, and be strengthened” (Psalm 103:4). This is a closely translated expression from the Greek, although it may not resonate as a Latin term. Some renderings suggest “Confirm” or “Strengthen.” The phrase “Come unto Him and be enlightened” pertains to vision; however, “Seek the Lord, and be strengthened” has a directive action. What does it mean to “seek the Lord’s face forever”? It is understood that clinging to God is beneficial; yet, if He is eternally sought, when will He be found? Perhaps the term “eternal” references our present life, illustrating that we ought to continually seek Him, for even after finding Him through faith, hope continues its quest. Love encapsulates both the finding through faith and the seeking through vision, where He will ultimately be found to fulfill us so that our search concludes. Without the initial discovery through faith in this lifetime, it would not be commanded to “Seek the Lord.” And having found Him, if He did not still merit earnest seeking, the scriptures would not say, “For if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:25). Hence, “Seek His face forever” signifies that the quest for love should persist, flourishing as our love deepens.

“Remember his marvelous works which He has done, his wonders, and the judgments of His mouth” (Psalm 104:5). This verse echoes a call that resonates deeply, akin to God declaring, “I am He that sent Me unto you,” an affirmation that seems subtle yet profound. By introducing His own Name, He enriched the people with grace, declaring: “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; this is My Name forever” (Exodus 3:14-15). This declaration indicates that those whom He identifies as His people will dwell with Him eternally, articulated simply enough for even children to grasp. “I am what I am” reflects the depth of this relationship.

“To you, O descendants of Abraham, His servant, the children of Jacob, His chosen ones” (Psalm 104:6). Further, it is added, “He is the Lord our God: His judgments are in all the earth” (Psalm 103:7). Is He the God of the Jews alone? God forbid; He is the Lord our God, for His judgments are proclaimed to the entire world.

“He always remembers His covenant” (Psalm 104:8). Other versions may read “forever,” attesting to the potential ambiguity in the Greek language. If we consider this to mean our earthly realm rather than eternity, one cannot ignore the mention of the covenant He remembers, expressed as the “word which He gave to a thousand generations.” This may carry certain limitations, particularly when referring to the covenant made with Abraham (Psalm 103:9) and the oath sworn to Isaac, establishing a law with Jacob and an everlasting covenant with Israel (Psalm 103:10). Some understand this Old Testament reference as the promise of Canaan; yet, as the Psalm states, “To you will I give the land of Canaan; the lot of your inheritance” (Psalm 104:11); how can this be regarded as eternal if this earthly inheritance is not?

The Old Covenant is rightly called “Old” because it has been superseded by the New. A thousand generations imply a limit, yet they are still too many for our temporal existence. Even if a generation spans merely fifteen years before one can produce offspring—what do these thousand generations symbolize, particularly from Abraham’s promise through to the New Testament, and even back to Adam? Who can assert that this world will endure for 15,000 years? It seems that the Old Covenant should not be associated with the promise of everlasting life, which is fulfilled through faith in Christ. The covenant of justification and the eternal inheritance promised by God through faith characterizes this everlasting covenant, supplemented by “the Word which He commanded to a thousand generations.”

The essence of this command relates to the righteous living by faith (Romans 1:17), with the promise of an eternal inheritance preceding the offering of faith. The designation of a thousand generations serves as a perfect number, framing the concept that as long as lineage succeeds lineage, we are called to live by faith. This is observed in the children of promise who inherit by birth and depart through death until all generations conclude. This is captured in the notion of “a thousand,” as ten multiplied by itself, which gives rise to completeness.

He also speaks of the covenant with Abraham and the oath sworn to Isaac, setting it for Jacob by law, recognizing the three patriarchs. Moreover, the Lord signifies the special nature of this bond, as noted in the New Testament, where He declares, “Many shall come from east and west, and shall recline with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11). This reflects the eternal inheritance.

The account proceeds to narrate the well-known history: “When they were few in number, very few, and were strangers in the land” (Psalm 104:12). This refers to their time in Canaan. The wording in some translations conveys that they were quite few and foreign, possibly reflecting a more direct interpretation of the Greek.

“In the time they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another” (Psalm 103:13). This restates their journey from one nation to another. Let no one harm them; even kings were rebuked for their sake (Psalm 103:14). “Touch not My anointed, nor do My prophets any harm” (Psalm 104:15). The authority of God is being asserted, forbidding kings from harming His chosen ones, who were vulnerable as they settled in Canaan. Although these exact words may not appear in history’s texts, they can be understood as either secret admonitions speaking to men’s hearts through ineffable truths or announced via angelic messages. Both the king of Gerar and the king of Egypt received warnings not to mistreat Abraham and Isaac, while others were instructed not to touch Jacob during their time of few numbers and foreignness before their settlement in Egypt.

Yet one may ponder how they were labeled "the anointed" prior to any actual anointing that conferred such a title upon kings. How could these patriarchs be considered anointed? They were called prophets, as shown with Abraham, whose prophetic role is indicative of their own. Are they termed anointed because they were spiritually aligned, though it may have been obscure? Although Christ’s lineage originates from them, He predated them, affirming, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). How could they not recognize Him, for they were indeed prophets, perceiving anticipations of the Lord’s coming. As He stated, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day; he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). None are reconciled with God apart from the faith found in Christ Jesus, as stated by the Apostle: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

He proceeds to recount how they shifted from one nation to another; a famine struck the land, and all sources of sustenance failed (Psalm 103:16). Thus, they relocated from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another. It is crucial to note the language of Scripture: it expressly says, “He called for a famine in the land,” depicting the famine as an entity that complies with the divine call. Ancient Romans even revered deities associated with afflictions and calamities. Alternatively, it could suggest He declared a famine, where “to call” signifies naming or commanding. As elucidated by the Apostle, “He calls things that are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17), for God’s ordinations toward the future are already actualized within His Providence. Upon the arrival of the famine, it was said to be called forth, ensuring the prophecies manifest as intended.

“He sent a man before them” (Psalm 104:17). This was Joseph. And how was he sent? Sold into slavery by his brothers. Despite this betrayal, it reflects how God orchestrates the outcomes of human actions, intending good from their ill intentions.

Continuing the narrative, Joseph endures suffering in his lowly state yet is eventually exalted. “His feet were hurt with fetters; his soul was laid in irons, until his word came” (Psalm 103:18). While the Scriptures do not clearly state he was shackled, it’s reasonable to infer this circumstance. Some details may be omitted from this account, which would be imperfect under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration. The iron entered his soul indicates deep sorrow; the text doesn’t mention the body, but the soul, paralleling Simeon's utterance to Mary: “And a sword will pierce through your own soul” (Luke 2:35). The Lord’s Passion was a trial for many, revealing their true sentiments towards Him, often causing profound grief to His own Mother. Joseph endured this distress until his prophetic word was fulfilled, as he adeptly interpreted the dreams, leading him before the king to forecast events based on his visions (Genesis 41). He added, “Until his words came,” implying that the focus must remain on the divine rather than attributing the outcome solely to man. “The word of the Lord tested him” (Psalm 104:19); as expressed in other translations, “The word of the Lord ignited him,” ensuring he was honored “Receive praise in His holy Name.”

“The king sent and released him, the ruler of the peoples, and set him free” (Psalm 103:20). The king corresponds to “the ruler of the peoples” who liberated him from captivity, establishing him as the lord over his household and administrator of all his belongings (Psalm 103:21). His role was to enlighten his princes and equip his elders with sagacity (Psalm 103:22). The Greek conveys teaching wisdom to his elders, where “elders” refers to those sharing in commune rather than merely aged individuals. The term suggests that wisdom transcends mere prudent reasoning; it encapsulates a deeper, divine intelligence. We do not encounter references to Joseph’s exaltation when considering his initial bondage and experiences. One may inquire how a devout servant of the true God, amidst Egypt, became solely concerned with earthly sustenance while neglecting spiritual guidance of the people.

Pharaoh, who had forgotten Joseph, observed that the Israelites were becoming exceedingly numerous, declaring, "Behold, this people is now becoming very numerous, and is stronger than we" (Ex. 1:8-9). However, their strength in numbers would not have risen so swiftly had they not benefited from Joseph's support and the favorable treatment of Pharaoh.

Since seventy-five individuals went into Egypt, six hundred thousand emerged from it.

The events recounted in the book of Exodus illustrate this point, as it states, ‘How much evil they did to them, how much more many they were, and the earth multiplied them’ (Exodus 1:7, 12).

He greatly multiplied His people and empowered me even more than their adversaries. It is stated that God significantly increased the number of the Israelites while they were in Egypt. The Israelites alone at that time remained faithful to the true God. Furthermore, it is said that God fortified the Israelites beyond the might of the Egyptians, who harbored animosity toward both the Israelites and God Himself. This illustrates that their growth was not a result of natural causes but rather of God's promise. Even when circumstances appeared dire, with their oppressors mistreating them, casting their children into the river, and inflicting violence upon them, they instead thrived and became formidable before the locals. Though they were subjected to slavery, persecution, and estrangement, their numbers continued to swell. For as long as they were oppressed, it is noted, they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.

In this passage, we observe another instance of God's unique grace towards the church of Judah, as it recounts how the people of Israel, in a remarkably brief period, grew and flourished contrary to the expected laws of nature. This divine blessing is so evident that it shames the scorn of those who mock the increase of the populace, as noted by Moses, since it surpasses what is ordinarily observed in the natural world. We must remember that the might of God transcends our limited comprehension and the typical law of nature; thus, we should marvel in reverence at this extraordinary act of His. Furthermore, reaffirming this notion, it is stated that He fortified them beyond their adversaries.