Remember the Wonders He Has Done: A Devotional on Psalm 105

Psalm 105 is an exuberant, historical anthem designed to anchor our faith in a single, vital habit: remembering.

While its companion song, Psalm 106, looks back at human failure and stubbornness, Psalm 105 focuses entirely on God’s unwavering faithfulness. It walks through centuries of covenant history—from Abraham to Joseph, through the plagues of Egypt, and into the Promised Land—demonstrating that even when the path looks long, confusing, or painful, God is constantly working out His divine promises.

It is a devotional for anyone who feels stuck in a long waiting season or uncertain about the future, reminding us that the God who kept His promises in the past will not fail us today.

The Scripture

1 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.

5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced... 8 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations...

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...

— Psalm 105 (NIV)

The Fourfold Call to Faith

The psalm opens with a rapid fire of active verbs in verses 1 through 5: give praise, proclaim, make known, sing, glory, seek, and remember.

Notice verse 4: "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."

When we face heavy daily tasks, long seasons of transition, or unexpected hurdles, our human instinct is to look first to our own strength, our own plans, or our own stamina. But self-reliance quickly leads to spiritual fatigue. Psalm 105 calls us to turn our focus outward—seeking God's presence (His face) and relying on His power (His strength) as our primary habit.

And how do we build that posture of trust? Verse 5 gives the key: "Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles..." Faith for today is fueled by remembering what God has done in the past.

When the Word Proves Us True

In verses 17 through 19, the psalmist highlights one of the most compelling stories of waiting in the entire Old Testament: the life of Joseph.

"And he sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true." (v. 17–19)

Consider what Joseph experienced: betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and locked away in an Egyptian prison. To anyone watching Joseph’s life in those dark years, it looked like a total tragedy. His feet were in shackles, and his future seemed completely ruined.

Yet Psalm 105 pulls back the spiritual curtain and reveals what was actually happening: God sent him before them.

God was using the very hardships that seemed to break Joseph to position him for a purpose far greater than he could have imagined. The prison was not the end of his story; it was the training ground where "the word of the Lord proved him true."

If you are currently in a hard, restrictive, or painful waiting room, take heart. God does not waste a single chapter of your life. The iron around your feet today may very well be developing the spiritual stamina you need for the doors He plans to open tomorrow.

He Remembers His Covenant Forever

The foundational bedrock of Psalm 105 is found in verse 8:

"He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations."

Human beings break promises when circumstances get difficult, when feelings fade, or when energy runs out. But God never forgets His covenant. His love toward you in Christ isn't dependent on your daily mood or your perfect performance—it is anchored in His unshakeable faithfulness.

From leading His people through the desert with a cloud by day and a fire by night (v. 39) to bringing water out of a dry rock (v. 41), God has proven time and again that He provides for those who belong to Him. He carried His people then, and He will carry you now.

Reflection & Application

• Building a Memorial Stone: Take 5 minutes today to write down 3 specific "wonders" or times God has guided, provided for, or protected you in the past. Keep that list nearby to look at whenever worry tries to creep in.

• Reframing the Waiting Room: Are you feeling stuck in an uncomfortable or restrictive season like Joseph did? Ask God to give you patience, trusting that He is using this exact season to refine your character and prepare your heart.

• Seeking His Face Always: Practice verse 4 throughout your day today. Before starting a project, stepping into a meeting, or making a decision, pause for 10 seconds and pray: "Lord, I look to Your strength and seek Your face right now."

Prayer

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name! God, thank You for Your unshakeable faithfulness that endures for a thousand generations. Forgive me for the moments I forget Your past miracles and let current worries cloud my vision. When my path feels restrictive or hard to understand, help me trust that You are working behind the scenes just as You did for Joseph. I look to Your strength and seek Your face today, anchoring my heart in Your eternal promises. Amen.

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