Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 105

O give thanks unto the Lord - The design here is to show that thanks should be given to the Lord in view of His dealings with His people, as stated in the subsequent portions of the psalm.

Call upon His name - More literally, “Call Him by His name;” that is, Address Him by His proper title; ascribe to Him the attributes which properly belong to Him; or, address Him in a proper manner.

Make known His deeds among the people - What He has done in former times. The allusion is to His acts on behalf of His people in delivering them from Egyptian bondage and bringing them to the promised land.

The word “people” here refers to the Hebrew people; and the exhortation is that the knowledge of these deeds should be diffused and kept up among them. One of the ways of doing this was that proposed by the psalmist, namely, by a psalm of praise—by recording and celebrating these acts in their devotions. One of the most effective modes of keeping up the knowledge of what God has done in our world is by songs of praise in worshipping assemblies.

Sing to him - Sing before him; offer him praise.

Sing psalms to him - The word here rendered “sing psalms” means properly “to prune,” and then, “to cut off,” as a discourse at regular periods; or, to utter in rhythmical numbers; and then it means to accompany such words with an instrument of music. The idea here is that he is to be approached, not merely with “singing,” but with sentiments expressed in the form of regular composition - in musical numbers.

You talk - The word used here very commonly means to meditate, to muse (compare the notes at Psalm 1:2), but would here seem to be employed in the sense of “talking over,” namely, in singing. That is, in the psalms used, let there be a “narrative” of what God has done. Let his works be the subject of the words used in the psalm.

Of all his wondrous works - Of what he has done that is suited to excite wonder and admiration. Compare Psalm 77:12.

Glory ye in his holy name - The original word rendered “glory” is the same word which is commonly used to denote “praise,” and it has that meaning here. The idea is, in your praises let the main subject be the name of God—that holy name by which he chooses to be known. The Hebrew is, “the name of his holiness.” It implies:

• that we should rejoice in God—in his very name—in that by which he chooses to make himself known;
• that it is a special subject of praise and rejoicing that his name is “holy;” that is, that he is a holy Being.

This can be a subject of real rejoicing only to those who are themselves holy; but properly considered, one of the highest reasons for rejoicing in God is the fact that he is holy—that he cannot look upon sin but with abhorrence. There would be no ground of confidence in God if this were not so.

Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord - That desire to know him; that come to praise him. Let their hearts rejoice—or, let them be happy:

• because they are “permitted” to seek him;
• because they are inclined to seek him;
• because they have such a God to come to—One so mighty, so holy, so good, so gracious.

Seek the Lord and his strength—Seek strength from him; seek that his strength may be imparted to you; seek him as a Being of almighty power, as One by whom you may be strengthened. The Septuagint and Vulgate render this, “Seek the Lord, and ‘be strengthened.’” Strength comes from God, and it is only by his strength that we can be strong. Only by our making use of his omnipotence in our own behalf can we discharge the duties and bear the trials of this life. Compare the notes at Isaiah 40:29-31.

Seek his face evermore—His favor. His smiling upon us, his lifting up the light of his countenance, is synonymous with his favor. See Psalm 24:6; Psalms 27:8. Compare the notes at Psalm 4:6.

Remember his marvelous works ... – The works suited to excite wonder. Call them to remembrance in your psalm; seek the aid of music and song to impress the memory of them deeply on your hearts.

His wonders – His miracles. See Psalms 78:43, note; Isaiah 8:18, note.

And the judgments of his mouth – That is, properly, the judgments which he pronounced on his enemies, and which were followed by their overthrow. The word does not refer here, as it often does, to his statutes or commands.