Psalm 105 Bible study: He has remembered his covenant forever

The psalm calls on its hearers to remember: "Remember his marvelous works that he has done" (105:5), and it says who they are: "you offspring of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones" (105:6). Then, before it tells a single work, it says who else remembers: "He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations" (105:8) (tap remembered). The story runs from Abraham to the land, and near its end the same Hebrew verb, zakhar, comes back as the reason: "For he remembered his holy word, and Abraham, his servant" (105:42). "He brought his people out with joy, his chosen with singing" (105:43). Between the two, the psalm tells act after act as his: "He allowed no one to do them wrong" (105:14), "He called for a famine on the land" (105:16), "He sent a man before them" (105:17), "He sent Moses, his servant" (105:26), "He opened the rock" (105:41). 1 Chronicles 16's chapter shows that its song, where this psalm has 105:8, says "Remember his covenant forever" (1 Chronicles 16:15); these notes don't repeat it.

זָכַרzakharsay za-KHAR

Brown-Driver-Briggs: "remember", and, with God as the one who remembers, "remember his own covenant (with them)". Strong's: "properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember". The psalm has it three times. First the people are told, "Remember his marvelous works that he has done" (105:5). Then twice God is the one who remembers: "He has remembered his covenant forever" (105:8), and "For he remembered his holy word, and Abraham, his servant" (105:42). Exodus says it of God before he sends Moses: "God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob" (Exodus 2:24). 1 Chronicles 16's chapter studies the verb in its song's "Remember his covenant forever" (1 Chronicles 16:15).