Psalm 106:1-48
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Summary
- A contrast between Israel's ongoing rebellion, to God's continued kindness.
- The greatness of his loving-kindness (especially when contrasted to Israel's persistent rebellion and sin) is yet another reason to praise and worship God!
Details and/or Comments
- It was because of his covenant to Abraham that he spared them. They didn't deserve it (and still don't)!
Scripture
Psalm 106:1-48
Introduction
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 106:1 Praise Yahweh! |
This phrase (here and at the end of the psalm) can also be translated as: “Hallelujah.” |
| Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psa 106:2 Who can utter the mighty acts of Yahweh, or fully declare all his praise? |
The goodness and loving-kindness of God. This describes one aspect of his nature.
God's mighty acts of power are consistent with his nature, and completely worthy of the greatest of praise. Some of those works are described below. If we don't view them as worthy of praise, it is because our perspective is influenced by the values of the wicked world, rather than by the righteousness of God. |
| Psa 106:3 Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times. | Blessed are those who do what is right... |
| Psa 106:4 Remember me, Yahweh, with the favor that you show to your people. Visit me with your salvation,
Psa 106:5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance. |
... and may I be one of those who do what is right! This is the only appropriate response to the goodness of God! |
Confession of sin
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 106:6 We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.
Psa 106:7 Our fathers didn't understand your wonders in Egypt. They didn't remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses, but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea. Psa 106:8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power known. Psa 106:9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; so he led them through the depths, as through a desert. Psa 106:10 He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. Psa 106:11 The waters covered their adversaries. There was not one of them left. Psa 106:12 Then they believed his words. They sang his praise. |
At the Red Sea
These events are described in Exodus 14:13-31 and sung about in Exodus 15:1-21. (The "wonders in Egypt" are described in some of the earlier chapters in Exodus.)
God's wonders in Egypt – They did not let the significance of his miracles to penetrate their hearts. They disregarded his ongoing commitment to them and rebelled. Even so, God delivered them through the Red Sea; but their enemies drowned. And for a moment, they trusted God and gave praise to him. |
| Psa 106:13 They soon forgot his works. They didn't wait for his counsel,
Psa 106:14 but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland. Psa 106:15 He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. Psa 106:16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, Yahweh's saint. Psa 106:17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. Psa 106:18 A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked. Psa 106:19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped a molten image. Psa 106:20 Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass. Psa 106:21 They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, Psa 106:22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome things by the Red Sea. Psa 106:23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn't destroy them. Psa 106:24 Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They didn't believe his word, Psa 106:25 but murmured in their tents, and didn't listen to Yahweh's voice. Psa 106:26 Therefore he swore to them that he would overthrow them in the wilderness, Psa 106:27 that he would overthrow their seed among the nations, and scatter them in the lands. Psa 106:28 They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. Psa 106:29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them. Psa 106:30 Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment, so the plague was stopped. Psa 106:31 That was credited to him for righteousness, for all generations to come. Psa 106:32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes; Psa 106:33 because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips. |
In the wilderness
They quickly forgot God's works and turned to rebellion. Here we find several examples of their rebellion and God's kindness, along with deserved judgment. Yet because of God's promise (covenant) to Abraham (see v. 45) and Moses' intercession on their behalf (v. 23), they never got the full judgment they deserved. Phinehas - A reference to an event in Numbers 25:6-18. As a leader of the people, he was enraged at the evil that was being committed against God (who would have to judge the people) and against the nation (which would have to suffer because of the sin). If it weren't for Moses' intercession, they would have been totally destroyed. Yet even Moses was negatively impacted by their ongoing rebellion, and couldn't enter the promised land. |
| Psa 106:34 They didn't destroy the peoples, as Yahweh commanded them,
Psa 106:35 but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works. Psa 106:36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them. Psa 106:37 Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. Psa 106:38 They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood. Psa 106:39 Thus were they defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds. |
In the promised land
Instead of destroying the wicked nations, they chose to follow their evil ways; and committed the vilest of evil practices. (See the book of Judges.)
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| Psa 106:40 Therefore Yahweh burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance.
Psa 106:41 He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them. Psa 106:42 Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand. Psa 106:43 Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity. |
God's righteous judgment. (See the book of Judges.)
Therefore, God sent nations to judge them for what they had done. This happened repeatedly. But also see the next few verses. |
Conclusion
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 106:44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry.
Psa 106:45 He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. Psa 106:46 He made them also to be pitied by all those who carried them captive. |
Even so, when they repented, he again showed kindness to them. Even captors became kind (a reference to the Babylonian captivity).
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| Psa 106:47 Save us, Yahweh, our God, gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise! | A prayer for deliverance, based on all that has been said previously in this psalm.
The ultimate purpose for this deliverance isn't centered on themselves - "so that we may feel good and be happy." (This is the reason that most people want out of unpleasant situations.) Rather, their motives are God-centered: so that they may give God the glory, honor and praise he deserves! |
| Psa 106:48 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, "Amen." | Praise to God! |
| Praise Yah! |
Scripture Passages
(Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.)
Genesis • Exodus • Leviticus • Numbers • Deuteronomy • Joshua • Judges • Ruth • 1 Samuel • 2 Samuel • 1 Kings • 2 Kings • 1 Chronicles • 2 Chronicles • Ezra • Nehemiah • Esther • Job • Psalms • Proverbs • Ecclesiastes • Song of Solomon • Isaiah • Jeremiah • Lamentations • Ezekiel • Daniel • Hosea • Joel • Amos • Obadiah • Jonah • Micah • Nahum • Habakkuk • Zephaniah • Haggai • Zechariah • Malachi Matthew • Mark • Luke • John • Acts • Romans • 1 Corinthians • 2 Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Philippians • Colossians • 1 Thessalonians • 2 Thessalonians • 1 Timothy • 2 Timothy • Titus • Philemon • Hebrews • James • 1 Peter • 2 Peter • 1 John • 2 John • 3 John • Jude • Revelation |
—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——
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The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.
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Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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