Psalm 105:28

Modern

He sent darkness, and it became dark—yet they defied His words.

Traditional

He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.

Literal

He sent darkness and it became dark, and they defied His words.

Latin

Misit tenebras, et obscuravit; et non exacerbavit sermones suos.

Hebrew

English

He sent darkness, and it became dark—yet they defied His words.

The psalmist tells the story of Moses and the plagues in Egypt (see Exodus 7:20–12:30).

This hymn praises the Lord’s faithfulness to Abraham and his descendants in all their journeys:
- from Ur to Canaan (Psalm 105:12),
- to Egypt (Psalm 105:17, 23),
- through the wilderness (Psalm 105:37, 41), and
- back to Canaan (Psalm 105:44).
These events fulfilled the Lord's promise to Abraham (Psalm 105:9, 42), which was the basis for Israel’s very existence. Joseph, whose suffering turned into glory, serves as a model of encouragement for Israel (Psalm 105:16–25).
Psalm 105:1–15 (along with 96; 106:1, 47–48) is included in David’s song of praise recorded in 1 Chronicles 16.

Theme notes and profiles

Psalm 99:7
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them.
2 Peter 2:17
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
Joel 2:31
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
Luke 23:44–45
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.
2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
Ezekiel 2:4–8
They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’
Exodus 10:21–23
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.”
Joel 2:2
…a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.