Psa 105:40 | KingComments | STEP | The unfolding of God’s power in and against Egypt broke Egypt’s strength. There was no longer any power to keep God’s people in bondage any longer, nor any desire to do so. The plagues were God’s way of bringing His people out of the house of bondage ( ). It was not a carefully prepared escape or a fearful flight. Egypt led the people out and provided them with silver and gold ( ; ). Normally, silver and gold are the spoils after a victory in a war. Here, however, the people did not have to fight, for the battle was the LORD’s. The people of Israel only had to receive the spoils. He also provided them with the necessary strength, for their strength had been used up under the hard yoke of slavery. As a result, “among His tribes there was not one who stumbled” (cf. ; ). He sustained them by His presence. What a wonderful God He is to His people! “Egypt was glad” of their departure because it marked the end of the plagues ( ; ). Because of those plagues, “dread” of God’s people had “fallen upon them” (cf. ; ). The land had been devastated by all the plagues. In all the homes there was sorrow over the death of the firstborn. It was dread of the God of this people. After all, He had brought His plagues upon Egypt, which are evidence of God’s care for His people. After their exodus from Egypt, God’s care for His people had not stopped. God continued to care for His people. God’s provisions for His people in their exodus from Egypt and their journey through the wilderness are all inextricably linked to the oath He swore to Abraham. For their journey through the wilderness, He provided a covering against the daytime heat by “a cloud” ( ). Through that cloud He also led them. During the night, that cloud became a pillar of fire to guide them ( ; cf. ). To their request for food, He answered by bringing “quail” and satisfied them with “bread of heaven”, the manna ( ; ). To quench their thirst, He opened “the rock and water flowed out” ( ; ). “It ran in the dry places [like] a river”, continually supplying them with fresh water ( ; ). He has a reason for all these benefits, which we see from the word “for” ( ). He did all this because “He remembered His holy word [with] Abraham His servant”. That He remembered it does not mean that He had forgotten it. When He remembers it, it means that He is going to work to fulfill His made promise. His holy word is His absolutely reliable word. He does, what He has said (cf. ). Here it is clear that the LORD’s dealings with the people of Israel as painted in this psalm are based on the covenant He made with Abraham ( ). It is a one-sided covenant, which therefore can also be called a promise. “And He brought forth His people with joy” ( ). They are His people. Their deliverance by Him from the yoke of slavery has caused joy in them. How joyful they have been. They are “His chosen ones”. For that reason alone He has dealt with them in this way. What grace, about which they have rejoiced. Thus Psalm 105 is an illustration of what the LORD is going to do in the future by virtue of the new covenant, a covenant that is better because of the power of the blood of the new covenant, by which all is grace.

‏ Psalms 105:40

Israel Brought Out of Egypt

The unfolding of God’s power in and against Egypt broke Egypt’s strength. There was no longer any power to keep God’s people in bondage any longer, nor any desire to do so. The plagues were God’s way of bringing His people out of the house of bondage (Psa 105:37).

It was not a carefully prepared escape or a fearful flight. Egypt led the people out and provided them with silver and gold (Gen 15:14; Exo 3:22 ; Exo 11:2 ; Exo 12:35-36). Normally, silver and gold are the spoils after a victory in a war. Here, however, the people did not have to fight, for the battle was the LORD’s. The people of Israel only had to receive the spoils.

He also provided them with the necessary strength, for their strength had been used up under the hard yoke of slavery. As a result, “among His tribes there was not one who stumbled” (cf. Isa 5:27; Zec 12:8). He sustained them by His presence. What a wonderful God He is to His people!

“Egypt was glad” of their departure because it marked the end of the plagues (Psa 105:38; Exo 12:33). Because of those plagues, “dread” of God’s people had “fallen upon them” (cf. Gen 31:42 ; Gen 35:5; Est 9:2). The land had been devastated by all the plagues. In all the homes there was sorrow over the death of the firstborn. It was dread of the God of this people. After all, He had brought His plagues upon Egypt, which are evidence of God’s care for His people.

After their exodus from Egypt, God’s care for His people had not stopped. God continued to care for His people. God’s provisions for His people in their exodus from Egypt and their journey through the wilderness are all inextricably linked to the oath He swore to Abraham. For their journey through the wilderness, He provided a covering against the daytime heat by “a cloud” (Psa 105:39). Through that cloud He also led them. During the night, that cloud became a pillar of fire to guide them (Exo 13:21-22; cf. Isa 4:5-6).

To their request for food, He answered by bringing “quail” and satisfied them with “bread of heaven”, the manna (Psa 105:40; Exo 16:13-16). To quench their thirst, He opened “the rock and water flowed out” (Psa 105:41; Exo 17:1-7). “It ran in the dry places [like] a river”, continually supplying them with fresh water (Isa 41:18 ; Isa 48:21; 1Cor 10:4).

He has a reason for all these benefits, which we see from the word “for” (Psa 105:42). He did all this because “He remembered His holy word [with] Abraham His servant”. That He remembered it does not mean that He had forgotten it. When He remembers it, it means that He is going to work to fulfill His made promise. His holy word is His absolutely reliable word. He does, what He has said (cf. Jos 23:14).

Here it is clear that the LORD’s dealings with the people of Israel as painted in this psalm are based on the covenant He made with Abraham (Gen 15:2-21). It is a one-sided covenant, which therefore can also be called a promise.

“And He brought forth His people with joy” (Psa 105:43). They are His people. Their deliverance by Him from the yoke of slavery has caused joy in them. How joyful they have been. They are “His chosen ones”. For that reason alone He has dealt with them in this way. What grace, about which they have rejoiced. Thus Psalm 105 is an illustration of what the LORD is going to do in the future by virtue of the new covenant, a covenant that is better because of the power of the blood of the new covenant, by which all is grace.