How does Psalm 105:36 connect to the Passover event in Exodus 12? Psalm 105:36 in Focus “Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.” What Happens in Exodus 12 • “On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male—both man and beast—and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.” (Exodus 12:12) • “At midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh … to the firstborn of the captive … and every firstborn among the livestock.” (Exodus 12:29) • Israel’s households, protected by the lamb’s blood on their doorposts (Exodus 12:7, 13), were spared as the destroyer “passed over.” Direct Links Between Psalm 105:36 and Exodus 12 • Same event: both texts describe the tenth plague—the death of Egypt’s firstborn. • Same actor: “He” in Psalm 105 and “the LORD” in Exodus 12 are one and the same, underscoring divine initiative. • Same result: God’s action breaks Egypt’s power and opens the way for Israel’s release (Exodus 12:31-32). • Terminology echo: “firstborn” and “firstfruits of all their vigor” in Psalm 105 mirrors “every firstborn male … man and beast” in Exodus 12, highlighting both human and animal loss. Why the Psalm Re-Tells the Story • To celebrate covenant faithfulness (see Psalm 105:8-11). • To magnify God’s supremacy over Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12). • To remind later generations that their freedom rests on a real, historic deliverance. Layers of Meaning Highlighted by the Psalmist • Judgment and redemption happen together: Egypt judged, Israel redeemed (Psalm 105:37-38). • God struck the “firstfruits of all their vigor” —Egypt’s brightest hopes—while sparing His own “firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22). • The covenant purpose never wavered: “that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws” (Psalm 105:45). Broader Biblical Thread • Psalm 78:51 echoes the same plague, reinforcing the theme. • 1 Corinthians 5:7 connects the original Passover lamb to Christ: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” • Revelation 15:3-4 depicts the redeemed singing Moses’ song, showing that the Exodus victory still shapes worship at the end of the age. Takeaway Psalm 105:36 is the hymn-book shorthand for the climactic moment of Exodus 12. By striking Egypt’s firstborn, God kept His covenant, judged idolatry, and set His people free—truths that continue to fuel worship, obedience, and confidence in every generation. |
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