Psalms 105:25

Psalms 105:25 says, He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtily with his servants.  This seems to imply that the people of Egypt had no choice but to deal badly with the people of Israel, but I believe that God always gives people a choice, otherwise they could not be held accountable for their actions.  Verse twenty-six states, He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.  God sent Moses and Aaron then to free His people physically from Egypt, but the good news is that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to free all people from sin spiritually for all time if they accept Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-seven adds, They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.  Moses and Aaron showed the signs of God to the people of Egypt. We are to show the sign of the cross to the people of the world today.  Verse twenty-eight says, He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.  The next few verses simply tell of the plagues that God brought on Egypt. Verse twenty-nine adds, He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.  Verse thirty continues, Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings. Verse thirty-one continues still, He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.  Again, this is just a recounting of the plagues God sent against Egypt, which continued to get more devastating.  Verse thirty-two states, He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.  Verse thirty-three adds, He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.  Verse thirty-four continues, He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,  God did not need an army or even the angels to accomplish His will, but did so with simply His word, which brought forth locusts and caterpillers, and He can still do so today.  Of course, God's ultimate will is not the destruction of people, but their redemption, and He made this possible by the Word that became flesh, Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty-five says, And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.  Verse thirty-six declares, He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.  This was the ultimate plague that finally caused Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go.  The sacrifice of the first born, only begotten Son of God gives us freedom from sin and its power today if we only accept it.  Just as God worked miracles to free the people of Israel from bondage in Egypt, He has worked the ultimate miracle through His Son Jesus Christ to free anyone who accepts Him as their personal Savior and Lord from the bondage of sin today.

Psalms 105:37

Psalms 105:37 says, He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.  God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt wealthy and healthy.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are brought out of the world of bondage to sin spiritually wealthy and healthy.  Verse thirty-eight adds, Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.  The people of Egypt not only let the people of Isreal go, but they were glad they left,  because they feared God.  The Pharoah might not have wanted them to leave, but the people did, because they were afraid.  Verse thirty-nine states, He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.  God didn't just get the people of Israel out of Egypt and the absndon them, but He proved guidance for them as well.  Got not only delivers us from the power of sin, but He provides guidance for us each day.  Verse forty adds, The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.  God provided for the needs of the people of Isreal, had delivered them with riches out of Egypt, and  still they complained.  God has delivered us to the riches of everlasting life, yet we often complain.  Verse forty-one continues, He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.  God also provided them with plenty of water, and for Christians today, He provides us with the Bread of Life and the Living Water, Jesus Christ.  Verse forty-two declares, For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.  Just as God remembered His promises to Abraham then, He remembers His promises today.  God never forgot His part of the covenant with Abraham, and He never will forget His covenant relationship with us if we are followers of Christ today.  Verse forty-three adds, And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:  We are a part of God's chosen people as Christians, and we should go forth with joy.  Verse forty-four continues, And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;  Even if God never gives us a land in this world,  He has given us much greater, and that is a heavenly home.  Verse forty five concludes, That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws.  Praise ye the LORD.  God gave the people of Israel a land where His laws would be put first, and so He does with us today.  Like them, we should give all our praise to God.

Psalms 105:13

Psalms 105:13 says, When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;  The people of Israel at times found themselves in another land.. Verse fourteen adds, He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;  Even if they were in another land, whether by choice as Egypt or in defeat militarily as by the Philistines, God was still their protector.  No matter where we find ourselves today, even if we are in a land where we are persecuted, God will not allow us to come to any harm spiritually.  Verse fifteen continues, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.  God warned those in power over the people of Israel not to harm them, and He gives the same warning to everyaone today.  Though we may not live to see it, those who harm Christians will one day be held accountable by God when His final judgment comes.  Verse sixteen declares, Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.  God caused a famine to come on the world, even the land of Canaan.  Those who are supposed to be God's people are not exempt from His judgment if they stray away from Him in this lifetime.  Verse seventeen adds, He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:  Still, even during the famine God had provided a away for the people of Israel to be fed by Joseph's work in Egypt.  God will always provide a way for His people.  Verse eighteen continues,Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:  At one time it would not have looked as though Joseph would have been in a position to save the people of Isreal, since he was imprisoned himself.  We cannot allow our situation to keep us from serving God, even when we may feel that there is no hope.  Verse nineteen states, Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.  When God's timing was right, His word came to Joseph.  We need to be ready when God's timing is right to do whatever He leads us to do as followers of Christ, no matter our circumstances at the time.  Joseph could have simply given up on God when he was imprisoned, but he didn't.  Verse twenty adds, The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.  After Joseph had almost given up hope, the king of Egypt sent for him, and after Joseph interpreted his dreams by the power of God, he was set free and made a ruler over the people of Egypt.  We may never be a ruler over people today as Christians, but God has set us free from the power of sin.  Verse twenty-one continues, He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:  Joseph became the second most powerful man in Egypt. When God sets us free by accepting salvation provided by Jesus Christ, He alone is the authority in our life.  Verse twenty-two concludes, To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.  Joseph not only had authority over the princes, but he was to teach them wisdom, which can only come from God.  Verse twenty-three says, Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.  The people of Israel, upon learning who Joseph was, came to Egypt.  Likewise, if we are to find salvation today we must come to Jesus Christ by faith upon learning Who He is.  Otherwise, we will remain in a spiritual famine, doomed to one day go away  to everlasting punishment.   Verse twenty-four adds, And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their  enemies. Though we could read this as Joseph increasing the people of Israel, it was God working through Joseph Who did it.  We as followers of Christ do not increase the kingdom of God, but God working through us does.

Psalms 105:1

 Psalms 105:1 says, O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.  Giving thanks to God and making His works known to people is what we as followers of Christ should be doing today as well.  Verse two adds, Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.  We do this in worship services in the church building, but we should do this out in the world as well.  Verse three continues, Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. David called on the people of Isreal to glory in the holy name of God and to let the hearts of those who sought Him rejoice.  This is what we need in America today.  Christians should glory in the name of God and those that seek and find God through faith in Jesus Christ should rejoice.  Verse four states, Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.  As David said, we need to seek God's strength as we live life everyday.  Verse five adds, Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;  As we remember the marvelous works that God has done, the most important one I believe is the work of redemption when Jesus Christ came to die for our sins.  Verse six says, O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.  Israel was God's chosen people then, and we as followers of Christ are His chosen people today.  It was not because the people of Isreal were better than other people because of who they were physically, but because of their relationship to God spiritually that they were His chosen people, and so it is with Christians today.  Verse seven adds, He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.  David said that God was their God and His judgments applied not only to Isreal but to all the world.  This is still true today.  Verse eight continues, He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.  God's word is everlasting and we fall somewhere within that thousand generations.  Verse nine states, Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;  God entered into a covenant relationship with Abraham and continued it with Isaac, and it has never ceased to exist for those who put their faith in Him.  As followers of Christ, that covenant relationship is just as true today as it was then.  Verse ten adds, And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:  Again, David tells us that God's covenant relationship with His people is an everlasting covenant.  Verse eleven continues, Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:  God promised the people of Israel the lord of Canaan, and He promises us a much better place today, and that is our heavenly home. Verse twelve concludes, When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.  When God promised the people of Israel the land of Canaan, they were a very small group of people, but they served an all powerful God.  No matter how small we may be in numbers today as Christians, we serve an all powerful God so we should sing His praises to the world no matter what. 

Psalms 104:24

Psalms 104:24 says, O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.  The works of God are certainly manifold and made in the riches of His wisdom.  Nothing was created by accident, in spite of what many people would have us believe.  Verse twenty-five adds, So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.  The seas are a part of God's creation, separated from the land by His word.  Verse twenty-six continues, There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.  The ships, made by man, sail on the seas God created, and the seas are full of the sea creatures which God created.  Verse twenty-seven continues, These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.  All the creatures of the sea are dependent upon God for their food, and so are we really.  We may believe that we provide for ourselves, but God can take it all away were He to choose to do so.  Verse twenty-eight states, That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.  Just as God provides for the sea animals out of His gracious hand, so does He provide for us as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.  As David said about fish, if God takes away their breath, they die, and so do we.  God is the Giver and Sustainer of all life.  Verse thirty continues, Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.  Once more, we are reminded that God is the Creator of everything, and it is by His power that the earth is renewed, or fruitful.  Verse thirty-one declares, The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.  We may look around us and think the world is a terrible place and doomed to destruction, but we are reminded that God's glory will endure forever and that the LORD will rejoice in His work.  When God created the heavens and earth and all that live in them He pronounced them to be good, and one day He will restore everything to its original status, except for mankind, which will only be restored by faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  All others will go away to the place of suffering that God has prepared for them.  Verse thirty-two adds, He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.  Just as the psalmist said then, God has complete power over His creation.  Only people are the exception, because God gave them self will.  Verse thirty-four says, I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  As followers of Christ, this should be our goal as well.  We should sing praises to God for as long as we live.  Verse thirty-four adds, My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.  David said that his mediation on the LORD would be sweet and that he would be glad in Him.  No matter what is going on in life, we should be glad when we think about God and all that He has done for us.  Verse thirty-five continues, Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.  Though this will not happen until Chist returns, one day the sinners who do not accept Him as Savior and Lord will be consumed out of the earth.  We as Christians in the meantime need to simply praise the Lord. 

Psalms 104:10

Psalms 104:10 says, He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.  Verse eleven adds, They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.  God causes the springs to water the valleys, which then quech the thirst of the wild beasts.  God created everything to work in an orderly fashion, but people corrupted His creation because God gives them free will.  Verse fourteen continues, By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.  Not only do the streams provide water to drink, they also allow the grass and trees to grow, which provide food for the animals and a home for the birds.  Verse thirteen states, He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.  The water of the springs come from within the earth.  It satisfies the needs of the fruit of the earth.  Verse fourteen adds, He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;  God not only provides water, but He provides food for people and animals.  Some might claim that God isn't doing a very good job of providing these things, but the problems exist because of the sinful corruption of mankind.  Verse fifteen continues, And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.  We are told that God made the wine that makes the heart glad, which would indicate to me that it is just regular wine and not more like grape juice, and the oil and bread.  God provides for all our needs and even gives us things to bring pleasure into our life.  Verse sixteen says, The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;  Verse seventeen adds, Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.  Once again it is stated that God gives us trees which are the home of the birds among other things.  Verse eighteen states, The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.  The high hills serve as a home for the goats and the rocks for the conies.  Matthew Henry says the high hills and rocks are a refuge for those animals that are not as swift as others.  God provided a place of refuge for all of the animals He created, even people, before people through sin corrupted God's design.  Verse nineteen declares, He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.  God also created the moon to declare the seasons and the sun to rise and set.  Verse twenty adds, Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.  David said God created the darkness, and that during the darkness of night the beasts of the forest creep forth.  Verse twenty-one continues, The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.  During the night,the lions hunt their prey, which is said to provide meat from God.  Verse twenty-two states, The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.  After the sun rises, the lions go to their dens to rest.  Verse twenty-three adds, Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.  I believe this is saying that because the beasts prowl at night, people did their work during the daytime.  With the invention of electric lights, this may no longer be true, but we still would be reluctant to go out into the dark without a light, especially in some parts of the world.  God created the world in perfection, and one day He will restore it to perfection. 

LUK2:08 says, And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  That first Christmas night there was a group of lowly shepherds going about their normal night.  There was nothing that said it was anything special.  Verse nine adds, And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  Suddenly, the night was no longer normal as an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and they were very afraid.  We may not have an angel appear to us on Christmas day, but as followers of Christ, Christmas should always be a day that reminds us of the good news that the angel was going to share with the shepherds, and we have no reason to be afraid.  Verse ten adds, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  The good tidings of great joy that the angel shared with the shepherds was for all people.  We may not have been there that night, but this good news was for us as well.  Verse eleven declares, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  This is the true and only meaning of Christmas.  A Savior was born that day Who is Christ the Lord.  He is the One and only Savior, so let's not forget the reason we celebrate Christmas.  Verse twelve adds, And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  The angel said that the shepherds would find the Savior not as a king in power but as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.  Jesus was born as any other baby was born, but He was the only begotten Son of God.  Verse thirteen continues, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Verse fourteen adds, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  For the shepherds, this became anything but a normal night, and if we have met Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, this day should be a celebration of His birth, a Savior Who is Christ the Lord.