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Psalm 106 an Inspired Summary
Psalm 106 an Inspired Summary
There are several passages in our Bibles that give us a synopsis of the story. The people were in fact suppose to teach each generation about what God had done. This was how they were to ‘remember the LORD’ from generation to generation. It is interesting to me to see that the story was preserved and passed on and now here we sit thousands of years later and learn them.
Here, the Psalmist begins telling the story by praising the LORD (1-3), asking the LORD to bless him (4-5), and then confessing that this history is a history of sin, iniquity, and wickedness (6).
We start with the Patriarchs in Egypt and how God saved Israel in spite of their unbelief (7-10). He then recalls how they BELIEVED God’s words and trusted Him – but quickly turned away! (11-13). The craved evil things (14), tempted God (14), were envious of Moses (16), rebelled along with Dathan (17), made the golden calf to worship as God (19-20). In spite of all the wonders they had seen, they FORGOT GOD (21).
When presented with the opportunity to go and take the promised land, they instead “despised the pleasant land and did not believe God’s word” (24). They joined themselves to idols and provoked the Lord to wrath (28). They again provoked the Lord to wrath (32), and even Moses spoke rashly with his lips (32-33).
Entering the land, they did NOT destroy the nations, but learned their evil ways, even sacrificing their sons and daughters unto idols (34-39. The Lord gave them into the hands of their enemies (read Judges).
YET, even with this bad history record, the LORD heard their cry and remembers His covenant. The Psalmist takes heart and cries unto the LORD: “Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations” (47). From the review of Israel’s history, the Psalmist learned that when people turn back to God, God will forgive.
These things were also written (hence recorded and preserved) for OUR LEARNING, that we too might have hope (Rom. 15:4). We can have confidence that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Have you learned your history? Does the history of God prove to you the faithfulness of God? Have you confessed and returned to walk with God?
Hugh DeLong
