“Remember His Marvelous Works”

Introduction. Not all people enjoy the study of history. For some it is an arduous task that is not relevant to our modern day lives. Others are fascinated by the people, cultures and events that went before us. While it is not necessary for the child of God to become an expert in ancient history, the Holy Spirit teaches us in Psalm 105 that an appreciation of God’s Marvelous works in the past should lead those who would serve God to certain behavior in the present. This morning I’d like for us to examine some points together about this Psalm.

I. Overview of the Psalm.

A. Ten admonitions (Psalm 105:1-6).

B.  God’s covenant with Abraham (Psalm 105:7-11).

C. How God honored this covenant (Psalm 105:12-41).

D. The result of God’s wondrous deeds (Psalm 105:42-44).

E. Why God has done this (Psalm 105:45). 

II. How God honored His Covenant with Abraham.

A. He has protected His people from their enemies (Psalm 105:12-15).

1.  Abimelech, king of Gerar (Genesis 20:3).

B. God has put His own people in positions of power (Psalm105:16-22).

1.  Joseph’s misfortune became the salvation of the Israelites (Genesis 50:20).

C. God allowed Israel to increase in number (Psalm 105:23-25).

1.  Israel flourished and grew in number even after Joseph (Exodus 1:7).

D. God delivered Israel from Egyptian oppression (Psalm 105:26-36).

E. God provided for the needs of His people (Psalm 105: 37-41).

III. Ten Admonitions.

The ten admonitions at the beginning of the Psalm are powerful commands that speak to the one who would serve God about what God’s deeds in the past should produce in us. These fall into three categories:

A.  Laudatory Instructions.

1. “Oh, give thanks to the LORD!” (105:1a).  Gratitude is so important for children of God. It leads us to view things in perspective and prevents us from ignoring blessing we have already received.

2. “Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him” (105:2a). For God’s people music is more than entertainment, it is a gesture of worship and a vehicle of praise.

3. “Glory in His holy name” (105:3a). When God’s people witness, through the recounting of Biblical events, the grandeur of God’s glory, they should themselves “glory” in the realization that they serve such a glorious God. This can only happen if His people...

4. “Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth” (105:5). The child of God should never view Biblical history as boring or irrelevant, because it reveals to us the very things which should motivate us to faith and inspire within us a longing for the promises of God in the future. 

B.  Exclamatory Instructions.

1. “Make known His deeds among the peoples!” (105:1c). The one who truly believes and understands what God has done will be compelled to declare such things to other people.

2. “Talk of all His wondrous works!” (105:2b). If followers of the the Lord finds it difficult to talk to other people about the truth, it may be because they either do not know themselves as much about what God’s deeds as they should or they don’t fully believe in His “wondrous works.” The Holy Spirit shows us in this Psalm that a true understanding of God’s works should create within us an evangelistic zeal to tell other people about what God has done.

C. Instructions to Seek the Lord. The child of God is one who has, and continues to...

1. “Call upon His name” (105:1b). From the time in which Seth, the third son of Adam had his own son Enosh, human beings have “called” on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26). This is not prayer alone, but directing our trust and obedience towards the Lord. It is seeking His guidance, His blessings and a willingness to follow His way within our lives.

Three statements about “seeking” God.

2. “Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!” (105:3b).   It is the purpose and focus of our lives and all that God has done for us to seek Deity (Acts 17:26,27). This should not be a chore, but something about which we rejoice.

3. “Seek the LORD and His strength” (105:4a). The great power of God that is demonstrated in God’s great deeds in the past should lead His people to seek for even greater wonders in the age to come.

4. “Seek His face evermore!” (105:4b). While in this life we cannot see the face of the Lord and live (Exodus 33:20), our hope is that in the age to come we may eternally behold Him as He is (I John 3:2). 

IV.  Conclusion.

A. The result of what God has done (Psalm 105:42-44). When the Psalmist wrote, that they could with confidence recognize that God kept His word (vs. 42). They had been brought out of Egypt (vs. 43) and given a new land for which they had not worked, but which was “the labour of the nations” (vs. 44). They should have learned from that to trust the Lord and be faithful to Him. Sadly, Israel as a whole did not.

B. Why had God done these great deeds? (Psalm 105:45) God wants the obedience of His people. This has been true in all ages and it remains true today. When Christians looks back at God’s deeds in the past they should allow the remembrance of God’s “Marvelous works” to move them to greater faith, confidence and obedience to God in the present. After all, in Christ God has done even more marvelous things for us.