Remember His Wonders – A Heart of Thanksgiving | Psalm 105

INTRODUCTION

We have come to the last Sunday of this year. For many, these are days of party and celebration, vacations and rest. For still others, it is a time of reflection and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not just a particular day or season or an act. It is a fundamental part of our relationship with God. As believers, I hope that we would not just use this time of the year to give thanks. Gratitude should flow naturally as we reflect on who God is and what He has done. Every day, every moment that we think about it, every silent moment that we get, we are reminded of how much we should be thankful for.

I think the older we get it becomes more apparent to us how grateful we are for the small things in life. When I was younger, I was thankful for the new clothes, the money, and many such blessings that I receive. Those are temporal blessings that we need to be thankful for, but as you mature and the years pass by, we start beginning to thank God for just being able to get up every new morning, to be able to dress up ourselves, to be in the right frame of mind with the health and strength that God gives us each day.

This morning, we are going to reflect on Psalm 105. Psalm 105 is a song of thanksgiving and remembrance. This psalm was composed by King David. The first 15 verses were used in hymn when carrying the ark from the house of Obed-Edom. This is found in 1 Chronicles 16:7. It encapsulates the essence of gratitude by calling God’s people to recount His marvelous works, His covenantal faithfulness, and His acts of salvation in history. It was a song that suited the occasion. It traces Israel’s history from the promise of the land to Abraham to the possession of the land under Joshua. This Psalm invites us into a deeper relationship with God with thanksgiving. This is history retold in order to move God’s people to remember what God has done, testify to the nations about God’s actions in history, and praise God for His wonderful deeds.

1. Thanksgiving through Praise

Psalm 105:1-4

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. ² Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. ³ Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. ⁴ Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Thanksgiving starts with acknowledgement. These first verses are full of joyful praise. The chosen people of God are called upon to extol Jehovah. He is the one from whom all our blessings flow. The psalmist calls us to actively give thanks and to call on God’s name. This act of acknowledging God’s sovereignty is foundational to thanksgiving. Thanksgiving begins when we recognize God’s greatness and His works. When He is the source of all our blessings, he needs to receive all the praise and the glory that is due to Him. It shifts our focus from ourselves to the One who deserves all glory. The psalmist exhorts us to call upon the Lord and declare His deeds and praise Him. In Vs. 2 the psalmist encourages the people to sing praises to the one who deserves it, glorify His name, and seek His presence continually. Our singing should be “to Him” not just because we enjoy music or we love singing. We sing when we are joyful, but our singing should be directed to God from whom we have received all that we have. Seek the Lord and seek to know the power of His grace. To seek Him is to desire His presence. Our seeking should never cease. The more we know Him, the more we must seek to know Him. These are outward expressions of an inward gratitude. They reflect not only the recognition of what God has done but also a heart posture of worship.

Gratitude draws us closer to God. Thanksgiving brings joy to our hearts. As we remember His deeds, our hearts are filled with joy. As we glory in His name and seek His face, our spirits are lifted. This joy strengthens our relationship with God and deepens our faith. Thanksgiving is a discipline that combats discouragement and draws us closer to God.

APPLICATION

Let thanksgiving not be reserved for specific occasions. Praise Him daily for His love, mercy, and grace. Let it be our lifestyle. A practical way to cultivate this is through prayer and worship, focusing not only on petitions but also on glorifying God for what He has done, no matter how small they seem. Secondly create a “gratitude journal” where you record God’s goodness in your life, helping you to reflect on His faithfulness regularly.

ILLUSTRATION

King David is a powerful example of someone who danced before the Lord in unreserved thanksgiving when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). He danced before the Lord with all his might. His heart overflowed with gratitude, showing us that thanksgiving can be exuberant and uninhibited and not restrained by personal dignity or social norms.

2. Thanksgiving through Remembrance (Psalm 105:5-44)

5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, 6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.

The emphasis of Psalm 105 is on covenant history, the interaction between a faithful God who always keeps his promises and his inconstant people who often forget God.  This is an echo from the book of Deuteronomy. Israel’s history has been one long record of forgetfulness. It is a shame that we forget what should actually forever be etched in our mind. We should not be a people who need to be reminded to give thanks. God had to just utter a word and the enemies of his people would be sorely afflicted. Abraham their father had seen his wonders and judgments upon Sodom. Jacob saw the Lord’s marvellous works in visiting the nations with famine, yet providing for his chosen ones. The Israelites were God’s chosen people, and they were called to follow the example of Abraham, their ancestor, who faithfully served God and walked in trust and obedience. As descendants of such a faithful servant, they were not to live in unbelief or rebellion. Similarly, when we reflect on this reminder as God’s chosen people, we should recognize the unique responsibility we have because of the special blessings God has given us. Being chosen by God isn’t an excuse for laziness or complacency—it’s a reason to work even harder in our faith. If God has chosen us, we should strive to live as people who reflect that calling.

What is the importance of recounting history: Forgetfulness?? We are living in such a fast-paced world and a world of instants. Life moves very fast. Statistics say that on an average a person makes about 33,000 to 35,000 conscious decisions a day. Each individual spends approximately 2 hours per day deliberating over decisions. When we look at these staggering figures, we never realize how much we owe God. Sadly we are far more ready to remember foolish and evil things than to remember God’s works. If we remember the works of God, our faith would be stronger and our gratitude and devotion would be deeper to God. The psalmist hopes that this return will result in quickening of memory so that never again will people forget what it owes to the Lord.

I am sure if we ask most of us what we ate for breakfast on any given day we would not remember it. Thanksgiving grows when we recall God’s hand in our lives and in the history of His people. There is the constant danger that God’s people would forget His marvelous works. When we forget His great works, we are dishonoring him. We so easily drift to forgetfulness if we do not actively take an effort to remember. The Psalm was clearly written to call God’s forgetful people to remember what he has done for them and respond with grateful worship.

Why should we remember this God? Vs. 7 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.-It talks about the sovereignty of God. The One who entered into this unique relationship with the nation of Israel is “Jehovah our God.” What a delight to know that God is with us all the time. The Redeemer of Israel is also the Savior of all men, specifically those who believe coz the verse says, “his judgments are in all the earth.” This sovereign God has remembered His covenant forever. He is our God. There is no one that compares to Him. He is worthy of all praise, worship and honor. He is the giver of everything that we enjoy and have, so it is only rightfully due to glorify Him.

Remembering God’s Faithfulness:

Psalm 105:8-11, 42-44

“8 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, ⁹ the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. ¹⁰ He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: ¹¹ “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.” The reminder to “remember” that we see in verse 5 is on the basis of this verse that God has remembered his side of the covenant. The wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced are all covenantal miracles, things done in history as fulfillment of the promises Yahweh made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  This covenant was made by none other than the Sovereign God to a special people. In Genesis 15 when the Lord made the covenant with Abraham, it was a solemn moment that involved sacrifice and blood. This points us to a greater covenant which in Christ Jesus is signed, sealed, and ratified to stand forever and ever. Isaac did not witness the formal establishment of the covenant, but God reaffirmed His promise to him (Genesis 26:2-5). This renewal was sufficient to strengthen Isaac’s faith in God. As believers, we have the greater blessing of seeing both the sacrificial confirmation and the eternal promise of God fulfilled in Jesus Christ, through whom every covenant promise is assured and fulfilled for God’s chosen people. He never forgets the covenant he has made for a thousand generations. Generations of people may come in and go but God holds on to his covenant forever.

Though in the midst of oppression and misery in Egypt, it may have seemed that God has forgotten his covenant, but it was not so. He remembered it. We see in Exodus 2:24 “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” So often it seems to us, when we wait long for deliverance. We are inclined to ask, like the psalmist in Psalm 42:9 “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy.” But as we read the last verse of that psalm, we see when the tangible fulfilment of his promises, then we reprove our trustlessness and adore him for his faithfulness.

In all the circumstances of our lives and throughout history, we must remember this about the character of the God we worship:  He always remembers His covenant, even if we forget. God’s promise to the patriarchs, the great promise that he would give to their seed the land of Canaan for an inheritance was a type of the promise of eternal life made in Christ to all believers.

Psalm 105:42-44 ⁴² For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham. ⁴³ He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy; ⁴⁴ he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for—⁴⁵ that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. Praise the LORD.

Here we see the tangible fulfilment of God’s promises. Amen. God is faithful in all He does.

Remember God’s Protection:

Ps 105:12-15, 39-41

¹² When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, ¹³ they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. ¹⁴ He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: ¹⁵ “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”

These people were very few. Abraham was called out alone. As Israel wandered in the wilderness, God sheltered his people, though they were “few in number, few indeed” and strangers wandering from nation to nation. Because they were strangers, they were most likely to be abused. They were unsettled and went from one nation to another, kingdom to kingdom. Had it not been the hand of God, the enemies could have routed this small family without a trace. They were hedged under the guardianship of God. He held back the threatening hand of the strong so that in their days of pilgrimage they were preserved. He guarded his people in all ages, not suffering the great world powers to crush them whether it was Egypt, Philistia, or Canaan. How amazing to see God’s hand of protection during their pilgrimage days and their days of wandering. Even now he manifests his presence and power in our lives as we walk this pilgrimage journey. Like Abraham was called out alone to the future that God had for him, each one of us is on a pilgrimage journey. God will not have those touched who have been set apart unto himself. He calls them his own, saying “Mine anointed.”  He protects us from unseen dangers and powers that want to oppress us and take us captive. He rebukes kings and forces that come against us saying “Do not touch my anointed.” The gates of hell cannot prevail against his anointed. The eternal God is our refuge.

Psalm 105:39-41 ³⁹ He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. ⁴⁰ They asked, and he brought them quail; he fed them well with the bread of heaven. ⁴¹ He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.

God led Israel in the places and territories they were unfamiliar with. A way they could never have imagined. Never were people so favored. He not only provided the way, but also protected them supernaturally from the desert heat by a pillar of cloud in the day and from the desert chill by a pillar of fire by night. God himself was their sun and shield. Similarly, he leads us, his children even now. We don’t know our tomorrow but we can rejoice because the One who holds our tomorrow is the One who holds our hands. Amen.

God’s provision of bread from heaven and quail and water from the rock can interpose and save in the darkest hour. From the most unlikely sources, God supplies his people’s needs. The hard rock became a spring of water at the word of the Lord. The stream continue to flow on so that many could drink of it. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He is a God who calls things into existence out of nothing as if they were. Jesus is the rock from who flows rivers of living water which will not be exhausted.

ILLUSTRATION

The Israelites celebrated the Passover feast to remind them of their deliverance from Egypt. Similarly the Lord’s supper keeps alive the memory of Christ’s sacrifice and God’s ultimate act of love for us.

Remember God’s Providence

Psalms 105: 16-38

¹⁶ He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; ¹⁷ and he sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. ¹⁸ They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, ¹⁹ till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. ²⁰ The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. ²¹ He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, ²² to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.

²³ Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham. ²⁴ The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, ²⁵ whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. ²⁶ He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. ²⁷ They performed his signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham. ²⁸ He sent darkness and made the land dark—for had they not rebelled against his words? ²⁹ He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die. ³⁰ Their land teemed with frogs, ³² He turned their rain into hail, with lightning throughout their land; ³³ he struck down their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country.
³⁴ He spoke, and the locusts came, grasshoppers without number; ³⁵ they ate up every green thing in their land, ate up the produce of their soil. ³⁶ Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their manhood. ³⁷ He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered. ³⁸ Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them.

Vs 5 says Remember the miracles and the judgments the Lord has pronounced. The famine which afflicted Canaan ultimately brought Israel to Egypt. Gen 12:10 ¹⁰ Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. Gen 26:1 Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar.

The presence of God that remained with his chosen ones while they sojourned Canaan did not desert them when they went to Egypt. Here Joseph was the pioneer in God’s plan. His story is highlighted as an example of God’s providence. Vs 17-22. Joseph’s brothers had sold him out, but God who is sovereign and holds the future sends Joseph ahead of them. Though Joseph endured betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment, God’s hand was at work, positioning him to save many during famine. If the vision tarries, it is good to wait for it with patience. His redeeming kindness and love is shown to Joseph in his humiliation. Joseph rises to prominence in Egypt. Joseph moves from the prison to the palace. This illustrates God’s providential care. We also find God’s love in action to the whole nation in its captivity and suffering. A delayed blessing sometimes tests us all. Vs 24-The Lord made his people very fruitful. He made them too numerous from a “very little” indeed people. He sent the plagues into the Egyptian camp since they were oppressing his people and the Hebrews had cried out to the Lord. We read in the Scripture that every time the Hebrews cried out to the Lord, he heard them and delivered them from the Pharoah. Even when Pharaoh increased their workload and did not give the raw materials and did everything to oppress them, God heard their cries for help. Even in the times of suffering, God was working for the good of His people. Likewise in our lives do you remember God’s delivering grace is shown to us his children when we find ourselves in tough situations and later when we come out of it, we experience great joy and freedom. God does try us now, and the “trial of our faith” in dark and mysterious times, is intended to draw us nearer to himself and to deepen our confidence in Him.

3. Thanksgiving through Proclamation (Psalm 105: 2)

“Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.” (v. 2)

Proclamation is an act of thanksgiving: Thanksgiving is not complete until it is shared. The Psalmist recounts God’s calling of a people to Himself, Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, the provision in the wilderness, and the fulfillment of His promises in the Promised Land.

God’s deeds are meant to be shared: Thanksgiving is not just a personal act but a declaration to the nations of who God is. Israel’s great mission in the world was to proclaim to the nations the faithfulness of the living God. The return from the Babylonian captivity could have provided Israel with a marvelous new chapter and a new text from which to tell the nations of the goodness and unfailing faithfulness of God. That should be the goal of each one of us, to return from our wanderings and going astray in order to seek the Lord.

When we proclaim what God has done, we become witnesses of His power and His faithfulness. Our testimonies invite others to know the God we serve.

Living as witnesses: Our gratitude becomes a testimony that points others to the Lord, inviting them to know His power and love. Thanksgiving is not just about words, it is a lifestyle that glorifies God. It is about a life lived in obedience to God. As we live in gratitude, we reflect God’s goodness and draw others to Him.

ILLUSTRATION

 The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) ran to her village proclaiming, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” Her gratitude turned into an invitation for others to experience Christ.

CONCLUSION: Living a Life of Thanksgiving

Psalm 105 ends with God’s people inhabiting the Promised Land, a tangible expression of His faithfulness.

Psalm 105:42-45 ⁴² For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham. ⁴³ He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy; ⁴⁴ he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for—⁴⁵ that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 105:42-45 invites us to reflect deeply on God’s enduring faithfulness and His purpose in blessing His people. The psalm recounts how God, remembering His covenant with Abraham, delivered His people from slavery in Egypt with joy and triumph. His faithfulness did not stop at deliverance; He brought them into a land they did not cultivate, gifting them the fruit of others’ labor. This extraordinary act of provision points to a greater purpose: that His people would live in obedience to His precepts and laws, becoming a holy nation set apart for Him.

The psalmist’s words, “so that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws,” highlight that God’s blessings are never arbitrary or solely for material gain. Instead, they are designed to cultivate moral and spiritual transformation. By delivering Israel and settling them in the Promised Land, God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham while shaping a people who would reflect His holiness in their character and conduct. The inheritance of the land was not merely a gift of comfort but a call to covenant faithfulness—a life aligned with God’s will.

This truth has broader implications for us today. Thanksgiving is not confined to an occasional expression of gratitude but is a continuous lifestyle rooted in an understanding of God’s character and deeds. It is a recognition that every blessing we receive—from provision to redemption—is meant to draw us closer to God’s likeness. The ultimate goal of His blessings is not temporary happiness but lasting transformation—moral and spiritual enrichment that enables us to share in His holiness.

How do we respond to the providence of God?

1. Praise
2. Remember
3. Proclaim
4. Rejoice
5. Seek Him Always
6. Keep His Precepts
7. Observe His Laws

APPLICATION

Take time to reflect on your own life. How has God sustained you through trials? What prayers has He answered? Journaling or sharing testimonies with others can help keep His faithfulness alive in your memory.

Speak of God’s goodness not only within the church but also in your workplace, family, and community. Share how God has impacted your life. Your story might be the encouragement someone needs to seek Him.