We are coming to the end of the fourth book of the Psalter (Psalms 90-106), where we find two psalms that form a striking pair. Psalm 105 deals with the faithfulness of God to Israel; Psalm 106 deals with their unfaithfulness to Him. Psalm 105 begins with an exhortation to give thanks to the LORD, to call upon His name, and to make Him known to others. We are to sing His praises and tell of all His wonderful works. When another person does something great, we don’t hesitate to talk about it. And if we can somehow identify with that person (perhaps a relative, or from the same town, or a member of our team), then we glory in their accomplishments and find ourselves truly happy because of what they have done. But who’s talking about all that God does? Who will “glory in His holy name,” rejoicing in God’s amazing faithfulness? Too often we stay silent. We might think that talking about what God has done in our lives will make us look proud. Yet it often has the opposite effect. Certainly there is a way to testify about God that does indeed come across as self-centered, insensitive, or boastful. But when we never mention the LORD’s goodness to us, this cannot be an appropriate expression of modesty! Instead, we are giving the unintended impression that our own strength and abilities have enabled us to overcome all our problems and achieve all our goals. What we need is a delicate blend of humility and courage to share with others the ways in which we have witnessed God’s faithfulness and mercy (v 1-3). One way we show gratitude for past mercies is to come back for more. So we are called to keep seeking the LORD, with continual reliance on His strength. To fail to do so is to forget the One from whom all blessings flow. Those who are godly are careful to remember God’s awesome deeds. This is precisely why the psalm was written, of course. It was written to remind Israel what God had done for them. We would be far more thankful to God (and talkative about Him) if we were more observant of His activity and more intentional to somehow preserve those memories, and not forget them (v 4-6). There is no better example of God’s faithfulness than the covenant He made with Abraham. God promised that Abraham and his descendants would have a land of their own, and God does not treat His promises lightly. This was an “everlasting covenant” of God’s grace, not of mutual bargaining. As believers in Jesus, we too long for a homeland. This fallen world can never provide true security, comfort, and love. We are exiles here. But God has brought us into His family, and someday He will bring us home at last (v 7-11). For further meditation: