THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
This psalm begins with the title "Hallelujah," appearing twice. Some interpret one "Hallelujah" as relating to the conclusion of the previous psalm and the other as regarding this psalm's beginning. They argue that all psalms with this label end with a "Hallelujah," though not all start with one. Therefore, they assert that psalms lacking the concluding "Hallelujah" also cannot possess the initial one, arguing that what seems like the start actually belongs to the end of the preceding psalm. However, unless they present convincing evidence for this claim, we will adhere to the customary practice that attributes the "Hallelujah" to the psalm with which it is associated. Very few manuscripts show the "Hallelujah" at the end of the CL psalm, affirming our stance.
Read more (1351 words)
Even if such variants existed universally, they should not eclipse the established tradition. It's possible that the entire Psalter, which is divided into five books, draws to a close with this final "Hallelujah," summarizing everything previously sung. Given this, I do not believe every psalm marked "Hallelujah" requires it to appear at the end. When a psalm opens with a double "Hallelujah," it mirrors how our Lord sometimes says "Amen" once or twice. The positioning of these "Hallelujahs" after the psalm number suggests they belong to this psalm rather than being remnants of the preceding one. Should ignorance have led to a blended understanding, we ought to trust the pursuit of truth over the weight of tradition. For now, we will assign the "Hallelujahs" we find, whether once or twice, after the psalm number according to common church practice, recognizing that we believe in the significance of the titles and sequence of the psalms, though we have yet to fully discover their depths.
I note a deep connection between Psalms CV and CVI: in the former psalm, the people of God are honored through the elect, unharmed, while in the latter, those who provoked God are mentioned, though they too received His grace. This psalm begins similarly, with a call to give thanks to the Lord. That other psalm continues with a directive to "call upon His Name"; here, it acknowledges, "For He is gracious, and His mercy endures forever" (Psalm 105:1). This passage indicates a recognition of offenses, leading us to later read, "We have sinned with our fathers...we have acted wickedly," underscoring the duality in the text: praise of God intertwined with acknowledgement of sin. A true confession must embody the worship of God; it cannot be righteous without appeal to His mercy. The passage’s praise references God's goodness and mercy, appealing for that grace without which humanity cannot thrive. Thus, we can interpret His mercy as ever-present, seen in how it blesses the miserable or in eschatological hopes where suffering will persist. If one claims that God’s mercy will not cease for those condemned alongside the devil and his angels, it must rather be His mercy that may lessen their anguish, thus reaffirming that God's mercy is everlasting, even among eternal sufferings.
"Who can recount the mighty deeds of the Lord?" (Psalm 104:2) expresses the sentiment of meditation on God's works while seeking His favor. "Who can make all His praises known?" suggests the effort required to adequately speak of His mighty actions and ensure they are shared with those who will listen. It invites the question of who is capable of such an endeavor—one who, having comprehended them, can convey every praise due to Him. When the psalmist states, "Blessed are they that keep judgment always, and do righteousness at all times" (Psalms 104:3), could he refer to the observance of His commandments as works? For the apostle affirms that God works in us (Philippians 2:13), and thus the undertakings surrounding His commands and their accomplishments merit recognition. The psalmist’s choice of words—"Praise Him" instead of a more exhaustive list—implies an aspiration to acknowledge God’s works broadly.
If there were no distinction between judgment and righteousness, the scripture would not say, "Till righteousness turn again to judgment." The scriptures often link these terms, affirming that righteousness and judgment are foundational traits of His kingdom. Yet, truly understood, each holds its unique meaning. "He that keeps judgment judges justly, and he that does righteousness performs righteousness." The verse "Till righteousness turn again to judgment" conveys the blessedness of those who uphold both faith in judgment and righteous acts.
Next, the psalmist prays, "Remember me, O Lord, according to the favor you show Your people" (Psalm 104:4), seeking to be included among those God favors, as not all are equally blessed. "Oh, visit me with Your salvation" reflects the Salvation Himself, the Christ in whom we find forgiveness from sins and healing of souls, enabling a life of righteousness. The prayer ardently requests communion with salvation, seeing it as an opportunity to recognize the blessedness of God's chosen ones. In some texts, "happiness" is translated as "sweetness," akin to earlier references to His grace. Ultimately, the psalmist asks God to bless him not only with visible successes but with spiritual insights into the blessings of His people and to glorify His inheritance.
The confession continues: "We have sinned with our fathers; we have done wrong and acted wickedly" (Psalm 104:6). Reflecting on "with our fathers" intimates either shared error by imitation or a communal history of faithlessness, exemplified when the ancestors forgot God’s wonders in Egypt (Psalm 105:7). One could alternatively understand this as a call to recognize individual accountability while understanding the heritage of sin. This leads to a critical examination of their shortsightedness regarding God’s eternal promises against their temporal desires. Such blindness left them unsatisfied and demanding immediate gains, forgetting the scope and significance of God's previous miraculous interventions.
The psalm conveys the weight of misunderstandings and the call for humility, showing that ignorance should not excuse negligence but rather ignite a desire to seek God's help. The text underscores God's saving grace, despite the unwavering rebellion displayed by His people, "He saved them for the sake of His Name, to make His power known" (Psalms 105:8).
The narrative explains how God commanded the Red Sea to part, with no audible rebuke; the Divine Power acted seamlessly as the waters were pushed back (Psalm 104:9). Leading His people through the depths as if on dry land exemplifies God's inherent capability to mold nature itself.
As they were rescued from their enemies, we see that "the waters drowned those who troubled them: not one of them remained" (Psalms 105:11). Here, we note that the enemy sought to reclaim or destroy fleeing Israelites. Subsequently, "Then they believed His words" (Psalm 104:12), references a common praise for God’s triumph over their oppressors, as seen in the victorious hymn regarding His unfailing deliverance.
Yet, amidst their deliverance, "They acted in haste; they forgot His works" (Psalm 105:13), demonstrating a lack of reflection on God’s intentions for their blessing and their need for endurance. They succumbed to earthly desires, failing to grasp the eternal blessings that awaited them, exemplified by the Lord’s warning about transient satisfaction (John 4:4, 13).
Their rebellion in the wilderness continued as they "lusted and tempted God" (Psalm 105:14), showing that their ungratefulness led them to misplace their trust in fleeting desires rather than in God’s faithful provision. He granted them their desires but did not fulfill their deeper hunger for righteousness, an invitation to greater spiritual fulfillment, as it was not about mere physical sustenance (Matthew 5:6).
This revealed displeasure extended even to Moses and Aaron, the holy ones of God (Psalm 104:16). The wrath of God was felt when "the earth opened and swallowed Dathan, covering the assembly of Abiram" (Psalm 105:17), showcasing a pivotal moment of divine judgment amid widespread rebellion.
The narrative reflects that "a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up sinners" (Psalm 104:18). The word "sinners" denotes those entrenched in significant transgressions, as seen throughout scripture. They turned from worshipping God to fashioning idols, thus exchanging the glory of God for corruptible images (Psalm 105:19-20), showcasing the tragic exchange of divine splendor for earthly representations.
Over time, they forgot the God who saved them, who had performed wonders in Egypt and throughout their exodus (Psalm 104:21-22). The mighty deeds were both miraculous and daunting, emphasizing the awe He inspired among both the faithful and the rebellious.
Therefore, His response was one of divine discontentment, declaring, "I would destroy them" (Psalm 104:23). This noteworthy decision stemmed from their rebellion, reminding us of the power of intercession through Moses, who sought mercy on behalf of a sinful people.
In summary, "Yea, they despised this beautiful land" (Psalm 104:24) points to their profound lack of faith. It calls for reflection on how they questioned God’s promises, demonstrating their persistent unbelief. Their murmuring against God's command further sealed their fate, ultimately leading to judgment about scattering them among the nations (Psalm 105:26-27).