Psalms 106 Commentary: A History of Unfaithfulness, a Testament to God's Loyal Love
Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all his praise?
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
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.
We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
They joined themselves also unto Baal–peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them:
But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.
Psalms 106 offers a profound reflection on Israel's history, highlighting their repeated failures and contrasting them with God's unwavering faithfulness and loyal love. This psalm serves as both a confession and a celebration, reminding us of God's enduring mercy despite human shortcomings. Psalms 106 is the last entry in "Book Four" of the Psalms (Psalms 90-106), and it prepares the way for the final collection of praise in the book of Psalms.
An Invitation to Praise (Psalms 106:1-5)
The psalm begins with a resounding "Hallelujah!"—an invitation to worship and honor the Lord God (Psalms 106:1). The psalmist calls God’s people to give thanks, emphasizing God's hesed, His faithful and steadfast love that endures forever. It acknowledges that it’s impossible to praise Him enough and truly give Him His due (Psalms 106:1-2). Because of God’s character, those who practice justice and righteousness are blessed (Psalms 106:3). The psalmist then humbly asks God to remember and show favor to him, that he might benefit from the kindness God shows to the nation (Psalms 106:4-5). This sets the tone for the rest of the psalm, where the focus shifts to recalling Israel's repeated failures. Even amidst this recounting of sin, the foundation of appreciation for God's character remains.
A History of Rebellion (Psalms 106:6-46)
The bulk of Psalms 106 is dedicated to recounting Israel's history of rebellion, from the Exodus to the time of the Judges. The psalmist acknowledges that Israel had sinned in his day as the nation’s ancestors had (Psalms 106:6). Their forefathers rebelled against the Lord (Psalms 106:7). Yet He saved them for His name’s sake (Psalms 106:8).
Deliverance and Forgetfulness (Psalms 106:6-12)
The psalm recalls the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, including the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). God delivered them through the Red Sea from their adversary (Psalms 106:9-10). As a result, they believed His promises and sang His praise (Psalms 106:12). Yet, this faith was short-lived. The Israelites quickly forgot God's works (Psalms 106:13).
Wilderness Wanderings and Idolatry (Psalms 106:13-33)
The journey through the wilderness was marked by constant complaining and testing of God. They soon forgot His works (Psalms 106:13). They tested God on numerous occasions, and He punished them severely (Psalms 106:14-20). He gave them what they wanted, but their selfish cravings ended in sickness (Psalms 106:15). The people craved meat despite having manna (Numbers 11), and they faced a plague as a consequence. The rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16) and the golden calf incident (Exodus 32) are also highlighted as egregious examples of Israel's idolatry and ingratitude. If not for the intercessory prayer of Moses, God would have destroyed them for their idolatry (Psalms 106:23; see Exodus 32).
The psalm also mentions the people's refusal to enter the Promised Land out of fear (Numbers 14), resulting in forty years of wandering in the desert (Psalms 106:24-27). Eventually, they refused to enter the promised land that He had prepared for them (Psalms 106:24-25). So, He sentenced them to die in the desert (Psalms 106:26). In spite of all this, they did not repent but turned to idols and even caused Moses to sin (Psalms 106:28-33). The incident at Meribah, where Moses struck the rock in anger (Numbers 20), further underscores the pervasive nature of Israel's sin.
Canaan and the Cycle of Sin (Psalms 106:34-46)
Upon entering Canaan, the Israelites failed to drive out the Canaanites as God commanded (Psalms 106:34). Instead, they adopted their idolatrous practices, leading to a recurring cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance (Judges 2:16-19). They served the idols of the nations, committing horrific acts, including child sacrifice (Psalms 106:36-38). Therefore, the Lord let their enemies oppress them (Psalms 106:41-42). Even though He rescued them many times, they refused to learn but continued to rebel (Psalms 106:43). The only thing that prevented Israel from being completely wiped out was the abundance of God’s faithful love (Psalms 106:45).
A Plea for Salvation (Psalms 106:47-48)
Despite this litany of failures, the psalm concludes with a renewed plea for God's salvation. The psalmist concludes by praying that God would again save His people. Though they had disobeyed like their ancestors, he pleads with God to rescue them so that they might rejoice in His praise (Psalms 106:47). The psalm ends with a doxology, a blessing of praise to the Lord (Psalms 106:48).
Key Themes in Psalms 106
- God's Unwavering Faithfulness: Despite Israel's repeated failures, God remained faithful to His promises and His covenant. His loyal love (Hesed) is the constant refrain throughout the psalm.
- Human Unfaithfulness: The psalm starkly portrays the human tendency to forget God's blessings and turn away from His commands.
- Confession and Repentance: While the psalm recounts Israel's sins, it also implies a need for confession and a turning back to God.
- God's Mercy and Forgiveness: Even in the face of rebellion, God demonstrates mercy and offers forgiveness.
Application
Psalms 106 serves as a powerful reminder of our own propensity to stray from God's path. It challenges us to:
- Remember God's blessings: Cultivate a grateful heart by remembering God's past faithfulness in our lives.
- Confess our sins: Acknowledge our shortcomings and seek God's forgiveness.
- Learn from history: Avoid repeating the mistakes of the past by diligently following God's Word.
- Trust in God's mercy: Rest in the assurance that God's faithful love endures forever, even when we fail.
Psalms 106 is a testament to God's incredible patience and enduring love. It is a call to humility, repentance, and a renewed commitment to following Him. It also serves as a bridge, connecting the themes of lament and reflection in Book Four of the Psalms with the themes of hope and praise that will dominate Book Five.
Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all his praise?
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
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.
We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
They joined themselves also unto Baal–peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them:
But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.
Psalms 106 offers a profound reflection on Israel's history, highlighting their repeated failures and contrasting them with God's unwavering faithfulness and loyal love. This psalm serves as both a confession and a celebration, reminding us of God's enduring mercy despite human shortcomings. Psalms 106 is the last entry in "Book Four" of the Psalms (Psalms 90-106), and it prepares the way for the final collection of praise in the book of Psalms.
An Invitation to Praise (Psalms 106:1-5)
The psalm begins with a resounding "Hallelujah!"—an invitation to worship and honor the Lord God (Psalms 106:1). The psalmist calls God’s people to give thanks, emphasizing God's hesed, His faithful and steadfast love that endures forever. It acknowledges that it’s impossible to praise Him enough and truly give Him His due (Psalms 106:1-2). Because of God’s character, those who practice justice and righteousness are blessed (Psalms 106:3). The psalmist then humbly asks God to remember and show favor to him, that he might benefit from the kindness God shows to the nation (Psalms 106:4-5). This sets the tone for the rest of the psalm, where the focus shifts to recalling Israel's repeated failures. Even amidst this recounting of sin, the foundation of appreciation for God's character remains.
A History of Rebellion (Psalms 106:6-46)
The bulk of Psalms 106 is dedicated to recounting Israel's history of rebellion, from the Exodus to the time of the Judges. The psalmist acknowledges that Israel had sinned in his day as the nation’s ancestors had (Psalms 106:6). Their forefathers rebelled against the Lord (Psalms 106:7). Yet He saved them for His name’s sake (Psalms 106:8).
Deliverance and Forgetfulness (Psalms 106:6-12)
The psalm recalls the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, including the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). God delivered them through the Red Sea from their adversary (Psalms 106:9-10). As a result, they believed His promises and sang His praise (Psalms 106:12). Yet, this faith was short-lived. The Israelites quickly forgot God's works (Psalms 106:13).
Wilderness Wanderings and Idolatry (Psalms 106:13-33)
The journey through the wilderness was marked by constant complaining and testing of God. They soon forgot His works (Psalms 106:13). They tested God on numerous occasions, and He punished them severely (Psalms 106:14-20). He gave them what they wanted, but their selfish cravings ended in sickness (Psalms 106:15). The people craved meat despite having manna (Numbers 11), and they faced a plague as a consequence. The rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16) and the golden calf incident (Exodus 32) are also highlighted as egregious examples of Israel's idolatry and ingratitude. If not for the intercessory prayer of Moses, God would have destroyed them for their idolatry (Psalms 106:23; see Exodus 32).
The psalm also mentions the people's refusal to enter the Promised Land out of fear (Numbers 14), resulting in forty years of wandering in the desert (Psalms 106:24-27). Eventually, they refused to enter the promised land that He had prepared for them (Psalms 106:24-25). So, He sentenced them to die in the desert (Psalms 106:26). In spite of all this, they did not repent but turned to idols and even caused Moses to sin (Psalms 106:28-33). The incident at Meribah, where Moses struck the rock in anger (Numbers 20), further underscores the pervasive nature of Israel's sin.
Canaan and the Cycle of Sin (Psalms 106:34-46)
Upon entering Canaan, the Israelites failed to drive out the Canaanites as God commanded (Psalms 106:34). Instead, they adopted their idolatrous practices, leading to a recurring cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance (Judges 2:16-19). They served the idols of the nations, committing horrific acts, including child sacrifice (Psalms 106:36-38). Therefore, the Lord let their enemies oppress them (Psalms 106:41-42). Even though He rescued them many times, they refused to learn but continued to rebel (Psalms 106:43). The only thing that prevented Israel from being completely wiped out was the abundance of God’s faithful love (Psalms 106:45).
A Plea for Salvation (Psalms 106:47-48)
Despite this litany of failures, the psalm concludes with a renewed plea for God's salvation. The psalmist concludes by praying that God would again save His people. Though they had disobeyed like their ancestors, he pleads with God to rescue them so that they might rejoice in His praise (Psalms 106:47). The psalm ends with a doxology, a blessing of praise to the Lord (Psalms 106:48).
Key Themes in Psalms 106
- God's Unwavering Faithfulness: Despite Israel's repeated failures, God remained faithful to His promises and His covenant. His loyal love (Hesed) is the constant refrain throughout the psalm.
- Human Unfaithfulness: The psalm starkly portrays the human tendency to forget God's blessings and turn away from His commands.
- Confession and Repentance: While the psalm recounts Israel's sins, it also implies a need for confession and a turning back to God.
- God's Mercy and Forgiveness: Even in the face of rebellion, God demonstrates mercy and offers forgiveness.
Application
Psalms 106 serves as a powerful reminder of our own propensity to stray from God's path. It challenges us to:
- Remember God's blessings: Cultivate a grateful heart by remembering God's past faithfulness in our lives.
- Confess our sins: Acknowledge our shortcomings and seek God's forgiveness.
- Learn from history: Avoid repeating the mistakes of the past by diligently following God's Word.
- Trust in God's mercy: Rest in the assurance that God's faithful love endures forever, even when we fail.
Psalms 106 is a testament to God's incredible patience and enduring love. It is a call to humility, repentance, and a renewed commitment to following Him. It also serves as a bridge, connecting the themes of lament and reflection in Book Four of the Psalms with the themes of hope and praise that will dominate Book Five.