Let me at this time make a single and simple remark on these two Psalms. Observe the different shape that the very same transactions with the same people have, when weighed either as a part of the dealings of God's grace, or as the ways of His government.
In Psa. 105 it is God reviewing His people as all, that they were and all that they had done before His eyes; and through the whole of that Psalm, no matter what He may have to say, grace triumphs.
In the next Psalm (cvi.) though the very same things may be alluded to, it is His government that is in question; and the consequence is, that however He may intervene and may cause in the end His goodness to prevail, righteousness takes its course. Hence instead of being all the dealings of pure mercy and grace, there are the solemn ways and judgments of the Lord.
Now we have to do with both; with this only difference, that we begin and go on, through the infinite goodness of God, with His grace; and this makes a mighty difference. Israel, alas! though God in bringing them out of Egypt, wrought in grace, chose to take at Sinai the ground of righteous government; and that is the reason why Israel, at this present moment, possess none of their blessings but are the monument of what it is to sin against God, and of presumptuous sin also. The consequence is that of all the peoples of the earth, none have ever passed through such fearful vicissitudes of trial. And we may add mire. We know from the word of God that they have not yet passed out of that fiery furnace. Far from it. We know that the bitterest part of Israel's tribulation is to come. Nevertheless they shall be delivered, everyone that is found written in the book. We ought not to need such dealings of God, for if they come, it is for sin. Christ suffered once for our sins, as we ought to suffer for righteousness, or His name's sake. It is all entirely from losing sight of the Lord. Where we slip into anything like Israel, a painful history, what do we begin with? With our pledging and promising as Israel did, to follow the Lord faithfully? We begin with a Savior, which they did not—with a Savior who has accomplished not a merely temporal, but an eternal redemption, followed by the gift and presence of the Holy Spirit in power. Hence therefore our hearts are entitled to full comfort in Christ, and joy in God, and we can look forward to the full confidence that whatever appearances may be, though sorrow may cloud the night, joy comes in the morning.
But there is more than that. All through the ways of our God's government, we are entitled to enjoy not the riches only, but the glory of His grace. Properly speaking, we are not now objects of government till we are saved by grace. By government is here meant God's righteous dealing with us day by day—and He governs us, because He loves us and cares for us—but at the same time He loves us too well to let us stray to His own dishonor. He is thus forming us after His own mind, His own ways, His own character. “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”