The author of Psalm 106 is not known but the author shares with us a song of national repentance as the people return from being in captivity during those biblical times. Psalm 105 is a summary of God's faithfulness, while Psalm 106 is a summary of man's sinfulness.
If you look at it from a history standpoint, Psalm 105 covers events up to the departure of Egypt and Psalm 106 covers events from the departure up to what appears to be the Babylonian captivity, found in 2 Kings chapter 25. This psalm emphasizes that God patiently delivers us, in spite of our forgetfulness and self-willed rebellion.
Psalm 106:2 - "Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise"?
If we ever stopped to list all the mighty acts or miracles in the Bible, we would be astounded. They cover every aspect of life. The more we think about what God has done, the more we can appreciate the miracles he has done for us individually - birth, personality development, loving friends and family, specific guidance, healing, salvation - the list goes on and on. If you think you have never seen a miracle, look closer - you will see God's power and loving intervention on your behalf. God still performs great miracles!
Psalm 106:13-15 - "But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. 14-In the desert they gave into their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. 15-So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them"
In the desert, Israel was so intent on getting the food and water they wanted that they became blind to what God wanted. They were more concerned about immediate physical gratification then lasting spiritual satisfaction. They did not want what was best for them, and they refused to trust in God's care and provision. If you complain enough, God may give you want you ask for, even if it is not the best for you. If you're not getting what you want, perhaps God knows it is not in your best interest. Trust in his care and provision.
Psalm 106:33, 35-39 - "...for they rebelled against the Spirit of God ... 35-but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. 36-They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. 37-They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. 38-They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the land of Canaan; and the land was desecrated by their blood. 39-They defiled themselves by what they did"
Israel as notated above, constantly turned away from God. How, after the great miracles, they saw, could they turn from God and worship the idols of the land? We also have seen God's great miracles, but sometimes find ourselves enticed by the world's gods - power, convenience, fame, sex and pressure. As Israel forgot God, so we are susceptible to forgetting him and giving in to the pressures of an evil world. Remember all that God has done for you so you won't be drawn away from him by the world's pleasures.
Psalm 106:40-42 - "Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. 41-He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them. 42-Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power"
God allowed trouble to come to the Israelites in order to help them. Our troubles can be helpful because they humble us; they wean us from the allurements of the world and drive us back to God; they vitalize our prayers; they allow us to experience more of God's faithfulness; they make us more dependent upon God; they encourage us to submit to God's purpose for our lives and they make us more compassionate toward others in trouble.
Psalm 106:44-46 - "But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; 45-for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. 46-He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive"
This is a beautiful picture of God's great love for his people who deserved only judgment. Fortunately, God's compassion and mercy toward us are not limited by our faithfulness to him. God was merciful to us in sending his Son to die for our sins. If he did this while we were captive in sin, how much more merciful will he be now that we are his children?
1 Praise the Lord.
ReplyDeleteGive thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord
or fully declare his praise?
3 Blessed are those who maintain justice,
who always do what is right.
4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people,
come to my aid when you save them,
5 that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,
that I may share in the joy of your nation
and join your inheritance in giving praise.
6 We have sinned, even as our fathers did;
we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
7 When our ancestors were in Egypt,
they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses,
and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
to make his mighty power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;
he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them from the hand of the foe;
from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
11 The waters covered their adversaries;
not one of them survived.
12 Then they believed his promises
and sang his praise.
13 But they soon forgot what he had done
and did not wait for his counsel.
14 In the desert they gave in to their craving;
in the wilderness they put God to the test.
15 So he gave them what they asked for,
but sent a wasting disease among them.
16 In the camp they grew envious of Moses
and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord.
17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;
it buried the company of Abiram.
18 Fire blazed among their followers;
a flame consumed the wicked.
19 At Horeb they made a calf
and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
20 They exchanged their Glory
for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
21 They forgot the God who saved them,
who had done great things in Egypt,
22 miracles in the land of Ham
and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
23 So he said he would destroy them—
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him
to keep his wrath from destroying them.
24 Then they despised the pleasant land;
they did not believe his promise.
25 They grumbled in their tents
ReplyDeleteand did not obey the Lord.
26 So he swore to them with uplifted hand
that he would make them fall in the desert,
27 make their descendants fall among the nations
and scatter them throughout the lands.
28 They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor
and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
29 they provoked the Lord’s anger by their wicked deeds,
and a plague broke out among them.
30 But Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was checked.
31 This was credited to him as righteousness
for endless generations to come.
32 By the waters of Meribah they angered the Lord,
and trouble came to Moses because of them;
33 for they rebelled against the Spirit of God,
and rash words came from Moses’ lips.
34 They did not destroy the peoples
as the Lord had commanded them,
35 but they mingled with the nations
and adopted their customs.
36 They worshiped their idols,
which became a snare to them.
37 They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to false gods.
38 They shed innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was desecrated by their blood.
39 They defiled themselves by what they did;
by their deeds they prostituted themselves.
40 Therefore the Lord was angry with his people
and abhorred his inheritance.
41 He handed them over to the nations,
and their foes ruled over them.
42 Their enemies oppressed them
and subjected them to their power.
43 Many times he delivered them,
but they were bent on rebellion
and they wasted away in their sin.
44 Yet he took note of their distress
when he heard their cry;
45 for their sake he remembered his covenant
and out of his great love he relented.
46 He caused them to be pitied
by all who held them captive.
47 Save us, O Lord our God,
and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
48 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the Lord.