Psalms 106:5
that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The word "see" here isn't just about looking from a distance; it carries the deeper sense of "enjoying" or "participating in" the prosperity of God's people. This isn't merely observing their good fortune, but actively sharing in it as a vital part of God's own family.
This psalm begins by recounting Israel's past faithfulness and God's great deeds, but quickly shifts to confessing the nation's persistent sin and rebellion, even after experiencing God's deliverance. Verse 5, therefore, expresses a deep longing for the restoration of God's favor and the return to the land and blessings they forfeited, a desire to witness and share in the joy of God's chosen people once again.
What does it mean to 'see' the good of God's people? It's more than just witnessing it.
The Hebrew word translated as 'see' here carries a deeper meaning than mere observation. It implies experiencing, enjoying, and participating in something.
Experiencing Blessings
When the psalmist prays to 'see the good of your chosen,' he's not just asking to observe their prosperity. He desires to share in it, to feel the joy and blessing that God bestows upon those He has set apart.
This understanding echoes Jesus' words about the pure in heart seeing God – it's about an intimate, experiential connection.
When God's people are happy, it's a reflection of God's own faithfulness. But what does that joy look like?
This verse links the 'gladness of your nation' directly to God's actions and His chosen people. It's a national joy, a communal celebration rooted in God's faithfulness.
Joy in Restoration
Contextually, this psalm likely arises during or after a period of exile. The joy anticipated is the joy of restoration – of being brought back to their land and re-established under God's favor. It's a public display of God's power and love for His people.
This isn't just fleeting happiness; it's a profound gladness that comes from knowing God is actively working for their good and fulfilling His promises.
The ultimate glory isn't in our achievements, but in who God says we are.
The psalmist expresses a desire to 'glory with your inheritance.' This isn't about personal boasting, but about finding honor and distinction in being part of God's people.
An Inheritance of Honor
'Your inheritance' refers to God's people, whom He claims as His own special possession. To 'glory with' them means to share in the honor and privilege of belonging to God. It’s finding our ultimate source of pride and joy not in worldly status or personal accomplishments, but in our identity as God's own.
Understand the original words
tub · Hebrew Noun
Literally 'goodness' or 'well-being'; refers to the physical, spiritual, and holistic flourishing of God’s people under His care.
bachir · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those whom God has specifically set apart and called for His own purpose, signifying a special relationship and divine election.
simchah · Hebrew Noun
A deep, expressive joy or exultation, often experienced in community through the awareness of God’s presence and salvation.
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
That which is received as a possession; biblically, it refers to the people of Israel as God’s special possession and the object of His covenant interest.
This psalm looks forward to the joy of God's people being restored to their land and fully experiencing His blessings, a hope deeply rooted in the collective memory of exile and the triumphant return.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many Israelites and scattering them throughout the empire. This event marked a profound loss and a period of national trauma.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile of Judah
The Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling a significant portion of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This was a devastating blow to the nation and its religious life.
c. 538 BC
Persian Decree Allowing Return
Following the Babylonian conquest, the Persian Empire, under Cyrus the Great, issues a decree permitting exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 516 BC— this verse
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Under the leadership of figures like Zerubbabel and Ezra, the returned exiles complete the construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This marked a crucial moment of national and religious restoration.
This passage echoes the sentiment of rejoicing with those who rejoice, a core theme in Psalm 106:5, highlighting the shared joy within God's people.
Philippians 3:3Similar to Psalm 106:5's desire to glory with God's inheritance, Paul speaks of those who 'glory in Christ Jesus' and have no confidence in the flesh, finding true glory in God's chosen.
Deuteronomy 32:9This verse explicitly calls Israel the 'Lord's portion' or 'inheritance,' directly linking to the concept in Psalm 106:5 of glorying with God's inheritance.
Isaiah 43:20-21This passage speaks of God raising up a people for Himself, whom He calls His inheritance and who will declare His praise, directly correlating with the joy and glory found in God's chosen nation.
1 Peter 2:9Peter refers to believers as a 'chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession,' mirroring the identity and shared prosperity envisioned in Psalm 106:5.
clarkePsalms 106:5: "That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance."
That I may see the good of thy chosen - That I may enjoy the good, for so the word see is understood among the Hebrews. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God," - they shall enjoy him, possess his favor, and be made like unto him.
ellicottPsalms 106:5: "That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance."
(5) The tone of this verse indicates a prospect of a speedy advent of good.; and serves itself to give a probable date to the psalm.
The word "see" here isn't just about looking from a distance; it carries the deeper sense of "enjoying" or "participating in" the prosperity of God's people. This isn't merely observing their good fortune, but actively sharing in it as a vital part of God's own family.
This psalm begins by recounting Israel's past faithfulness and God's great deeds, but quickly shifts to confessing the nation's persistent sin and rebellion, even after experiencing God's deliverance. Verse 5, therefore, expresses a deep longing for the restoration of God's favor and the return to the land and blessings they forfeited, a desire to witness and share in the joy of God's chosen people once again.
This psalm begins by recounting Israel's past faithfulness and God's great deeds, but quickly shifts to confessing the nation's persistent sin and rebellion, even after experiencing God's deliverance. Verse 5, therefore, expresses a deep longing for the restoration of God's favor and the return to the land and blessings they forfeited, a desire to witness and share in the joy of God's chosen people once again.
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This perspective shifts our focus from self-aggrandizement to a humble rejoicing in God’s choice and the community He forms.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah leads the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, further solidifying the city's security and the community's sense of restored identity after the exile.
"that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance." — The word "see" here isn't just about looking from a distance; it carries the deeper sense of "enjoying" or "participating in" the prosperity of God's people. This isn't merely observing their good fo…
