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Psalms 105:34 meaning

God’s command is unstoppable, and His authority over creation leads His people to trust in Him.

The psalmist continues recounting God’s mighty works by recalling how “He spoke, and locusts came, And young locusts, even without number” (v.34). Here, the verse depicts the instant obedience of creation to God’s command, reflecting His sovereign authority over nature. In the context of Psalm 105, this moment speaks of one of the plagues sent upon Egypt—a devastating swarm of locusts that overwhelmed Pharaoh’s land. Egypt, located in the northeastern corner of Africa, has long been regarded as a cradle of civilization, bridging Africa and Asia through the Sinai Peninsula. During the era of the biblical Exodus (commonly dated around 1446 BC, though some scholars place it later), the ruling monarch of Egypt was referred to generically as “Pharaoh,” a title for kings across several dynasties. The plague of locusts was a direct contrast to Egypt’s agricultural abundance, showcasing that no human kingdom can stand unyielding before God’s supreme power, a theme threaded throughout Scripture.

By highlighting “He spoke, and locusts came” (v.34), the psalmist underscores the effortless might of God’s word. The locusts descend at His command, and their power to destroy stands as a symbol of God’s righteous judgment upon a king and nation that refused to release the Israelites from bondage. In the broader narrative of salvation, one can see echoes of this same power at work in Jesus, who demonstrates dominion over wind and waves, healing, and even death (Matthew 8:26). The psalmist’s remembrance of this plague in Psalm 105 reminds believers that God is not only the Creator of all things but also the just Judge who can use nature to fulfill His redemptive plan.

The overwhelming number of “young locusts, even without number” (v.34) highlights the completeness of the plague’s devastation. Egypt’s farmland suffered extensive damage, showing earthly riches cannot safeguard one from the consequences of defying God. The story of the Exodus resonates throughout Scripture as a vivid reminder that God’s deliverance power runs alongside His demand for obedience. The swarm of locusts vividly foreshadows that God’s justice cannot be circumvented, prefiguring the completeness of Christ’s ultimate victory over sin (1 Corinthians 15:57) and inviting us to trust in His purpose and plan above all else.

Psalms 105:34