Psalms 106

Psalms 106:1

Psalm 106: Lessons from HistoryCromwell asked, “What is history but God’s unfolding of Himself?” The psalmist would have readily agreed because in the history of his people, he saw Jehovah unfolded as a God of goodness, patience and steadfast love. Although we cannot name the psalmist, we do know that he was a godly Jew who wrote while his people were in captivity (v. 47). The Psalm is primarily a confession of national sin (vv. 6-46) but it also contains elements of praise (vv. 1-3, 48) and petition (vv. 4, 5, 47). Praise (106:1-3)106:1 In his approach to God, he begins with worship; he enters the divine gates with thanksgiving, and the sacred courts with praise. “Praise the LORD,” the translation of the Hebrew word “Hallelujah,” is the first and last note of the song. Ceaseless thanksgiving should arise to the LORD, because He has been so good to every one of us. His mercy endures foreverour continued survival is proof of that. If we received what we deserve, we would be lost forever. 106:2, 3 No human tongue will ever be able to recount all the miraculous interventions of God on behalf of His people. Eternity itself will not be long enough to praise Him adequately for all that He is and all that He has done. Lord, Remember Me! (106:4, 5)Praise is followed by personal petition. Looking forward to the restoration of Israel and the glorious reign of the Messiah-King, the writer prays that he might share in the blessedness of that day when God shows favor to His ransomed saints. He longs to see Israel enjoying unbroken prosperity and rejoicing after its long night of sorrow. He desires to share in the glory of God’s ancient earthly people. His prayer is not dissimilar to that of the dying thief, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luk_23:42). Red Sea Rebellion (106:6-12)The Psalm now turns to confession, following much the same order as the Lord’s prayer. Both begin with worship, move on to petition (“Give us this day our daily bread”) and then ask for forgiveness (“Forgive us our debts . . .”). It is a mark of true spiritual maturity when a man not only confesses his own sins but the sins of his people as well. How hard it is to say from the heart: We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.As we consider the sins of the Israelites, we must not look down our theological noses at them. If anything, we are worse than they! Let their backslidings remind us of our own and drive us to our knees in repentance. Their ingratitudethey did not fully appreciate the wonders God performed in Egypt to purchase their freedom. Their forgetfulnesstoo quickly the memory of God’s innumerable mercies faded from their minds. Their rebellionwhen they came to the Red Sea, they complained that God had led them to die in the wilderness, and that it would have been better to have stayed in Egypt (Exo_14:11-12). But their sin did not quench the Lord’s love. He found in their rebellion an opportunity to reveal Himself as their Servant and Savior. True to His name, He delivered themand what a gigantic exhibition of power it was! At the word of His rebuke, the waters of the Red Sea parted, leaving a bone-dry causeway for the Jews to cross on. When they were safely on the east side, free from the pursuing enemy, the waters returned to their place, conveniently drowning the Egyptian hosts. When they saw this marvelous converging of events, how could the Jews help believing Him and singing His praise? Complaints in the Desert (106:13-15)But it wasn’t long before another cycle of sin began. Their short memorythey soon forgot His miracles for them. Their self-willthey would not wait for His guidance. Their lustthey abandoned self-control in their craving for food (Num_11:1-35). Their provocationthey tested God. Well, this time God gave them what they wanted, but sent a loathsome disease among them (Num_11:20). Their history teaches us to be careful to pray always in the will of God because, as Matthew Henry said, “What is asked in passion is often given in wrath.” Dathan and Abiram, the Rebels (106:16-18)Their rejection of God’s leadershipDathan and Abiram, together with Korah and On, were leaders of a rebellion against Moses and Aaron (Num_16:1-30). They envied these two men of God. Also they wanted to intrude into the office of the priesthood. In rebelling against God’s holy ones, that is, against men who were set apart as God’s representatives, they were rebelling against God’s rule. As a result, the earth opened up and swallowed the leaders and their families. And fire burst forth to devour the two hundred and fifty other men who offered incense to the Lord (Num_16:31-35). The Golden Calf (106:19-23)Their idolatryBefore Moses had come down from Mount Sinai with the law of God, the people made a golden calf and worshiped it (Exo_32:4). They exchanged the glory of God for the likeness of an ox that eats grass. Instead of acknowledging God as their Savior from Egypt, they gave all the honor to the lifeless calf. God would have destroyed them in a moment if Moses had not interceded. Like a soldier who covers a break in a wall with his body, so Moses . . . stood before Him in the breach to turn away God’s wrath. The Evil Report of the Spies (106:24-27)Their faithlessness at Kadesh Barnea (Num_14:2, Num_14:27-28)God had promised them the pleasant land, a land that was ideal for location, climate and resources. The promise contained all that was necessary to enter and occupy the land. But they did not believe His promise, and turned up their noses at (despised) the land. Instead of marching forward in faith, they sulked in their tents. Therefore God raised His hand in an oath to destroy that generation in the wilderness and to disperse their descendants among the nations of the world. Sin with People of Moab (106:28-31)Their sinful worship of the Baal of PeorThe men of Israel not only committed fornication with the daughters of Moab, they also joined in sacrificing to the dead and in other pagan ceremonies involved in the worship of the Baal of Peor (Num_25:3-8). God was so infuriated that He sent a plague to slay the people by the thousands. When Phinehas saw an Israelite taking a heathen woman to his tent, he slew both of them with his spear. This stopped the plague, but only after twenty-four thousand had died. This act was a positive proof of his righteousness, and was rewarded by a covenant of peace. The Lord said: Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel (Num_25:12-13). Trouble at Meribah (106:32, 33)The sin of Moses (Num_20:2-13)At the waters of Meribah (strife), the people were blatantly unbelieving. They accused Moses of leading them into the wilderness to die of thirst. Instead of speaking to the rock, as God said, Moses struck it twice with his rod. He also spoke rashly against the people for their rebellion. As a result God decreed that he would be denied the privilege of leading the people of Israel into the land of promise. In CanaanSame Old Story (106:34-39)The new environment of Canaan did not change the nature of the Israelites, as seen by: 106:34 Their failure to exterminate the pagan inhabitants. The debased Canaanites were a gangrenous limb of the human race. After bearing with them for hundreds of years, God decided that the only solution was amputation, and committed the surgery to Israel. But they failed to obey Him (Jdg_1:27-36). 106:35 Their intermingling with the heathen. By fraternizing and intermarrying with the pagans, Israel corrupted its own religion and morals. 106:36 Their idolatry. Soon the Jews were worshiping idols instead of the true and living God. 106:37-39 Their human sacrifices. Particularly revolting to the Lord was the sacrifice of their sons and daughters to appease the demons (2Ki_3:27; 2Ki_21:6; Eze_16:20-21). Sons and daughters of God’s chosen people were sacrificed to the filthy idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with murder. The Times of the Judges (106:40-46)“Offended with His people,” writes Barnes, “the Lord treated them as if they were an abomination to Him.” He turned them over to the GentilesMesopotamians, the Midianites, the Philistines, the Moabites, and others. These ungodly nations lorded it over the Jews, oppressing them and persecuting them. In spite of this treatment, the people persisted in their sin and rebellion against Jehovah. But whenever they turned to Him in repentance, He looked down on them in mercy. Mindful of His covenant, He turned from judgment to display His steadfast love. Even during the darkest hours of their captivity, the Lord caused them to be pitied by their captorsa touching example of mercy triumphing over judgment. Save and Regather (106:47)The psalmist prays for the regathering of his people, scattered throughout the nations of the world. This will result in great thanks ascending to God’s holy name; His people will make it their glory to praise Him. The prayer anticipates the petitions of the remnant of Israel in the future time of the Tribulation, prior to the inauguration of Christ’s glorious kingdom. Doxology (106:48)With this rapturous note we come not only to the end of the Psalm but to the end of the fourth book of the Psalms. But in coming to the end we must resist the temptation to put this Psalm in a dispensational pigeon-hole, limiting its message to the wicked nation of Israel and failing to see our own history reflected in it. In 1Co_10:11 we distinctly read: Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. It warns us against ingratitude. If Israel should have been grateful for redemption by power from Egypt, how much more grateful should we be for redemption by the blood of Christ from sin and from Satan! It warns us against forgetfulness. How easily we forget the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus. How guilty we are of “the curse of dry-eyed Christianity.” It warns us against complaining. It becomes a way of life to complain about the weather, about our living conditions, about minor inconveniences, and even about lumps in the gravy. It warns us against self-will, against putting our will above the will of God. “He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul” (v. 15). It warns us against criticizing God’s leadership, whether governmental officials, elders in the assembly, or parents in the home. It warns us against idolatrythe worship of money, home, cars, education, pleasure, or worldly success. It warns us against disbelief in the promises of God. This sin caused Israel to wander in the wilderness for thirty-eight years and barred the guilty ones from entering the promised land. It warns us against immorality. The worship of the Baal of Peor involved gross sexual sin. God’s attitude toward it is seen in the disaster which He visited upon the culprits. It warns us against what might seem to be “trivial” disobedience. Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it. That may not seem very serious to us, but no disobedience is trivial. It warns us against marrying unbelievers. God is a God of separation. He hates to see the corruption of His people through the formation of unequal yokes. Finally, it warns us against the sacrifice of our children. Too seldom do Christian parents hold the work of the Lord before their children as a desirable way in which to spend their lives. Too often our children are raised with the ambition to make a name for themselves in business or the professions. We raise them for the worldand for hell.