He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
- He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded - or 'ordained' as an unalterable "law" (Psalms 105:10): cf. Psalms 68:28). His "covenant" is (as the parallel word explains) His "word" of promise that Israel should be His chosen people, and should possess Canaan (Psalms 105:11; Psalms 105:42).
To a thousand generations - a verbal allusion to Deuteronomy 7:9: cf. Exodus 20:6. Connect this clause, not with "which He commanded," but with "He hath remembered" - i:e., He hath remembered, and will remember to all generations His promise (cf. Luke 1:72-73).
Verse 9. Which (covenant) he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac - (Genesis 26:3.) In this verse and Psalms 105:10 He views the covenant in relation to those who received it (Deuteronomy 29:13). In Psalms 105:11 He specifies its contents. On His covenanted word, cf. Haggai 2:5.
Verse 10. And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant - `that it might retain perennial vigour, like some solemnly-proclaimed decree' (Venema). Genesis 28:13; Genesis 35:12, are alluded to.
Verse 11. Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance. The "thee" refers to each one of the three patriarchs to whom severally the promise was addressed: the "your" refers to all three collectively. All the wonders and judgments specified have as their end the fulfillment of this one promise, as most calculated to give hope to the Jews then in Babylon, exiled from Canaan. See introductory notes; also Psalms 78:55.
Verse 12. When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it. Bad as is our position as exiles in Babylon (the Psalmist implies), it is not worse than that of our forefathers at their first stay in Canaan, "very few, and strangers." They could of themselves do nothing to bring to pass the prophecy of their obtaining Canaan; but God, who gave the promise, fulfilled it: for "there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few" (1 Samuel 14:6). The allusion is to Jacob's words: "Among the Canaanites and the Perizzites, I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me and slay me." "Yea, very few" - literally, 'as a few:' like fewness itself (Isaiah 1:9).