"O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people."
Psalm 105:1
The first part of this psalm is a part of David’s psalm from 1 Chronicles 16, where he is praising God for returning His Ark to Israel many years after it had been captured by the Philistines in battle. David is overwhelmed by God’s goodness.
“O give thanks unto the LORD;”
Every good thing we have in our lives has come as a gift from our loving Heavenly Father.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning,” (James 1:17).
Because God deals with man on the basis of His grace, “common grace” to all, He deserves our thanks and praise for His goodness! We have far more reasons to praise His name!
“Call upon his name:”
“More literally, ‘Call him by his name;’ that is, Address him by his proper title; ascribe to him the attributes which properly belong to him; or, address him in a proper manner.”1 (Barnes)
We call on the name of the LORD [Jehovah]. This good God is the one we call upon!
“And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted,” (Isaiah 12:4).
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call,” (Joel 2:32).
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” (Romans 10:13).
“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours,” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
As we call our God by His various names, we help others learn of His greatness, power, and wisdom.
“Make known his deeds among the people.”
“Among the people,” or the “peoples.” God wants His children to proclaim His greatness both among believers and unbelievers. Tell everyone what He has done.
“Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name,” (Psalm 18:49).
Tell others how great our God is!
1. Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.