Psalm 105 Part 1  

In the previous psalm the author in a few broad strokes had painted the whole universe. He never loses sight of the sheer majesty and holiness of God. When Ezra arranged and ordered the psalms, he placed Psalms 104, 105, 106, and 107 together purposefully.  Psalms 105 and 106 are companions that reveal the two sides of the relationship between God and His people during a long period. 105 is about how God treated Israel (God’s faithfulness). Psalm 106 is a confession about How Israel treated the Lord (Israel’s unfaithfulness). It is a hymn of the captivity. This one sings the song of His faithfulness and power; while the next will tell the sad story of repeated failure and rebellion on the part of His people. So in the two, taken together, we have divine favour and human failure. 

The first 15 verses of this psalm are also found in 1Chron 16:8-22 and presented there as a composition of David, written and sung for the bringing of the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. We can, therefore, conclude that though this psalm is not here specifically attributed to King David, he is either the author of it or part of its compilation.

  Psalm 105 covers 500 years of history; from the covenant with Abraham to settlement in Canaan. (see v44). Psalm 106 is the history of God’s people being dispersed among the nations (See v27). Psalm 107 is the history of God’s people being gathered from the nations (see v3). Therein lies a beautiful trilogy. However, if we add Psalm 104, which is the story of creation, we have a magnificent tetralogy (4 connected operas or dramas) – a complete chronology covering the whole OT story up to the time of Ezra. Thus: 104 is creation history, 105 is Patriarchal history, 106 is the history of Israel in the promised land up to the Babylonian captivity and 107 is the history of the return of the exiles. This psalm begins with an awesome worship service – thanking, proclaiming, praising, exalting & searching. “Search for the Lord,” it advises us, “and keep on seeking.” (v4NLT)