Psalm 105: The invisible hand of God

In March 2004, Donovan Campbell, then 25, a Princeton grad who decided he’d rather learn leadership skills in the military than in the corporate world, arrived in Iraq with a 40-man infantry platoon called Joker One. For the entirety of their deployment, they had 160 men to stabilize a city of approximately 350,000 — one United States soldier for every 2,200 Iraqis. They averaged three enemy contacts per day. Campbell said, “By the time we returned, we had taken about half wounded. One out of every two men who went over came back hurt.”

The difficult circumstances strengthened his faith in Jesus Christ. Campbell continued, “The horrors of war did not diminish my view of God or the saving power of Jesus Christ. I have chosen a world with God, which to me means a world of hope, ultimate meaning and ultimate purpose over a world without God in which our lives have no ultimate reason for being.”

This Memorial Day we focus on those who paid the ultimate price defending our freedom. Ultimately, God is our protector and provider. Oliver Cromwell said, “What are all histories but God manifesting himself?”

World history cannot be understood apart from God’s redemptive hand upon history. This is the hinge upon which history turns. God is always working through his people to effect the flow of the entire world.

Psalm 105 is a historical psalm. It lists 500 years of God’s faithfulness to Israel. In this psalm we see God intervening in the affairs of men. We see God closely involved in human lives. We see God not distant and far removed but up close, actively involved in the affairs of men, the events of history, the rise of rulers and the direction of history. God was faithful to Israel in the past. God has also been very good to America. Psalm 105:1-45 divides into six stanzas each detailing God’s faithfulness to Israel.

• The first stanza is Israel’s exhortation in verses 1-7. Ten imperatives launch this psalm, calling God’s people to worship him. “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples” (verse 1). “Sing praises to Him” (verse 2). “Glory in His holy name” (verse 3). “Seek the Lord and His strength” (verse 4). All believers are to seek the knowledge of God. God’s people are urged to remember the great things the Lord has done (verse 5).

• The second stanza is Israel’s election in verses 8-15. God has remembered his covenant with Abraham, keeping and executing his promises (Genesis 12:1-3). “He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded, for a thousand generations” (verse 8). He will keep his word for 1,000 generations, a generation being basically 40 years. God will preserve his word for the next 40,000 years or for the remainder of human history.

• The third stanza is Israel’s exile in verses 16-25. The history of God’s dealings with Israel now advances to the days when Joseph was in Egypt (Genesis 37-50). A famine destroyed all the bread (verse 16). Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers (verse 17). He was imprisoned by the Egyptians (verse 18). Although he was confined in the prison of Potiphar, he was not forgotten by God (verse 19). Israel entered Egypt and remained there 430 years. God remained sovereignly in control of Israel’s destiny in Egypt.

• The fourth stanza is Israel’s exodus in verses 26-38. At the appointed time, God sovereignly raised up Moses to lead Israel out of the Egyptian bondage (verses 26-28). The ten plagues so devastated the Egyptians they released the Israelites from their oppression and bondage.

• The fifth stanza is Israel’s encircling in verses 39-41. During the 40 years that followed God spread out a cloud, the shekinah glory, that protected and led Israel in the wilderness. “He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night” (verse 39). God’s glory served as a cloud in the wilderness, a shield of protection from the Egyptians and a covering for the fiery manifestations of God’s glorious presence.

God’s people asked for food in the wilderness when they became hungry. God fed them with quail. God also fed them with manna, the bread of heaven. God satisfied them with his abundant provision. “The people asked and he brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and the water gushed out” (verses 40-41).

• The sixth stanza is Israel’s entrance in verses 42-45. As Israel approached the promised land, God perfectly kept his word. God gave them the lands of the nations (verse 44). God abundantly blessed his people to motivate their hearts to keep his precepts (verse 45). The psalm concludes as it began, with praise being offered to God.

This Memorial Day we remember those who paid the ultimate price in defending our nation. We must also focus upon the goodness of God. He has blessed our nation. He has protected our nation. He sent his son Jesus to die for our sins on the cross.

Napoleon Bonaparte, the great French military leader, was once asked, “Is God on the side of France?” Intoxicated with his own success he said, “God is on the side that has the heaviest artillery.”

Later, the diminutive dictator boasted, “I make circumstances.” But that was before the battle of Waterloo. In 1815, Napoleon lost the battle despite his superior weaponry. Exiled to the barren island of St. Helena, Napoleon changed his perspective about God and history. The once proud man acknowledged, “Man proposes, but God disposes.”

God is sovereign. God controls human history and destinies. He is guiding them to their appointed end. God is God and victory ultimately belongs to him.

Ethan Hansen is the pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. He can be reaches at ehansen@biglakefaithbible.org.