What is the meaning of Psalm 105:34? He spoke - Psalm 105:34 opens with the simple statement, “He spoke.” God’s voice alone sets events in motion. - Throughout Scripture the creative and commanding power of His word is highlighted: “For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:9); “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). - In Exodus 10:12–13, the LORD instructs Moses to stretch out his staff so that locusts will swarm Egypt—yet the true activating power is God’s spoken decree behind that act. - The verse therefore underscores God’s absolute authority: when He verbalizes His will, creation responds instantly, whether in blessing (Psalm 147:15–18) or in judgment (Isaiah 55:11). and the locusts came - The next phrase records the immediate fulfillment: “and the locusts came.” There is no delay or resistance; nature obeys its Creator. - Exodus 10:14 describes the historic event this verse recalls: “The locusts covered all the land of Egypt … Never before had there been such a large swarm of locusts, nor will there ever be again.” - The swift arrival illustrates how God can employ even tiny insects as instruments of judgment, paralleling the hail (Psalm 105:32–33) and darkness (Psalm 105:28). - Joel 2:1–11 compares a future locust invasion to an army, reminding us that God’s control over such swarms spans past and future. young locusts without number - “Young” (newly hatched) locusts are the most voracious; they devour everything in their path before they grow wings. - “Without number” points to overwhelming magnitude, echoing descriptions in Judges 6:5 and Revelation 9:3 where countless locusts symbolize unstoppable devastation. - This detail heightens the severity of the eighth Egyptian plague: total ecological and economic collapse for an empire that had defied the living God (Exodus 10:15). - The limitless swarm also contrasts with the bounded, protected life Israel enjoys, fulfilling God’s promise to preserve His covenant people (Exodus 8:22; Psalm 105:42–45). Purpose behind the plague - Judgment on Egypt’s idolatry: by sending locusts, God exposes the impotence of Egyptian deities tied to agriculture. - Vindication of God’s covenant: Psalm 105 as a whole celebrates how the Lord “remembered His holy promise to Abraham His servant” (v. 42). Each plague, including this one, moves Israel closer to liberation (Exodus 6:6). - Revelation of God’s name to the nations: “so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God” (Exodus 8:10; compare Romans 9:17). Living it today - Trust the sufficiency of God’s word: the same voice that summoned locusts sustains believers (Matthew 4:4). - Recognize His sovereign control over all creation, including circumstances that seem chaotic (Colossians 1:16–17). - Respond quickly to His commands; nature does not hesitate—neither should His people (James 1:22). - Take comfort: He who wields judgment also grants deliverance to those sheltered under the blood of the Lamb (Exodus 12:13; John 1:29). summary Psalm 105:34 captures in one sentence the matchless authority of God’s spoken word. With a single command He unleashes an immeasurable army of young locusts, demonstrating His power to judge rebellion, fulfill covenant promises, and advance redemption. What He says happens; therefore His people can rest in every promise and heed every command, confident that the LORD who once spoke locusts into Egypt still rules heaven and earth today. |
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