What is the meaning of Psalm 105:31? He spoke When God “spoke,” He demonstrated that His voice alone is the instrument of creation and judgment (Genesis 1:3; Psalm 33:9). The psalmist recalls the Exodus narrative, where the Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, and it will become gnats” (Exodus 8:16). • No committee, no delay—just a command. • The same voice that promises salvation (John 5:24) also pronounces judgment (Revelation 19:15). • Because His word is always effective (Isaiah 55:11), the plague came exactly as declared. and insects swarmed The phrase captures the sudden, overwhelming nature of the plague (Exodus 8:17–18). Psalm 78:45 adds that God “sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them.” • “Swarmed” paints a picture of irresistible invasion, mirroring the way sin pervades when unchecked (Romans 5:12). • The swarm proved Egypt’s idols powerless; their magicians admitted, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19). • For Israel, the event became a memorial of divine rescue, later echoed in Revelation 16:2 when end-times plagues fall on a rebellious world. gnats throughout their country The plague touched “their whole territory” (Exodus 8:17), leaving no safe pocket. Psalm 78:45 specifies gnats as instruments of torment, a foretaste of total judgment (Deuteronomy 28:59–60). • Scope: “throughout their country” underscores God’s absolute reach—no border can limit His rulings (Jeremiah 23:24). • Severity: Gnats irritated skin, eyes, and breathing, turning daily life into misery—just as sin’s consequences permeate every corner of life apart from grace (Galatians 6:7–8). • Separation: Later plagues spared Israel (Exodus 8:22), previewing the distinction Christ makes between those under wrath and those under mercy (Romans 5:9). summary Psalm 105:31 reminds us that God’s spoken word commands history. With a single sentence, He unleashed a nation-wide swarm of gnats on Egypt, revealing His unrivaled authority, exposing false gods, and safeguarding His covenant people. The verse spotlights a Lord who judges thoroughly yet uses judgment to advance redemption, assuring believers today that His promises and warnings remain equally certain. |
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