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Psalms 106

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¹Praise ye Jehovah. Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

²Who can utter the mighty acts of Jehovah, Or show forth all his praise?

³Blessed are they that keep justice, And he that doeth righteousness at all times.

⁴Remember me, O Jehovah, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people; Oh visit me with thy salvation,

⁵That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen, That I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, That I may glory with thine inheritance.

⁶We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

⁷Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; They remembered not the multitude of thy lovingkindnesses, But were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

⁸Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, That he might make his mighty power to be known.

⁹He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up: So he led them through the depths, as through a wilderness.

¹⁰And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

¹¹And the waters covered their adversaries; There was not one of them left.

¹²Then believed they his words; They sang his praise.

¹³They soon forgat his works; They waited not for his counsel,

¹⁴But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert.

¹⁵And he gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.

¹⁶They envied Moses also in the camp, [And] Aaron the saint of Jehovah.

¹⁷The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And covered the company of Abiram.

¹⁸And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked.

¹⁹They made a calf in Horeb, And worshipped a molten image.

²⁰Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.

²¹They forgat God their Saviour, Who had done great things in Egypt,

²²Wondrous works in the land of Ham, [And] terrible things by the Red Sea.

²³Therefore 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] .

²⁴Yea, they despised the pleasant land, They believed not his word,

²⁵But murmured in their tents, And hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah.

²⁶Therefore he sware unto them, That he would overthrow them in the wilderness,

²⁷And that he would overthrow their seed among the nations, And scatter them in the lands.

²⁸They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead.

²⁹Thus they provoked him to anger with their doings; And the plague brake in upon them.

³⁰Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment; And so the plague was stayed.

³¹And that was reckoned unto him for righteousness, Unto all generations for evermore.

³²They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, So that it went ill with Moses for their sakes;

³³Because they were rebellious against his spirit, And he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

³⁴They did not destroy the peoples, As Jehovah commanded them,

³⁵But mingled themselves with the nations, And learned their works,

³⁶And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them.

³⁷Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,

³⁸And 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.

³⁹Thus were they defiled with their works, And played the harlot in their doings.

⁴⁰Therefore was the wrath of Jehovah kindled against his people, And he abhorred his inheritance.

⁴¹And he gave them into the hand of the nations; And they that hated them ruled over them.

⁴²Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.

⁴³Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.

⁴⁴Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry:

⁴⁵And he remembered for them his covenant, And repented according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

⁴⁶He made them also to be pitied Of all those that carried them captive.

⁴⁷Save us, O Jehovah our God, And gather us from among the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise.

⁴⁸Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye Jehovah.

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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.

Psalms 106:1-5 Verses 1-5

None of our sins or sufferings should prevent our ascribing glory and praise to the Lord. The more unworthy we are, the more is his kindness to be admired. And those who depend on the Redeemer's righteousness will endeavour to copy his example, and by word and deed to show forth his praise. God's people have reason to be cheerful people; and need not envy the children of men their pleasure or pride.

Psalms 106:6-12 Verses 6-12

Here begins a confession of sin; for we must acknowledge that the Lord has done right, and we have done wickedly. We are encouraged to hope that though justly corrected, yet we shall not be utterly forsaken. God's afflicted people own themselves guilty before him. God is distrusted because his favours are not remembered. If he did not save us for his own name's sake, and to the praise of his power and grace, we should all perish.

Psalms 106:13-33 Verses 13-33

Those that will not wait for God's counsel, shall justly be given up to their own hearts' lusts, to walk in their own counsels. An undue desire, even for lawful things, becomes sinful. God showed his displeasure for this. He filled them with uneasiness of mind, terror of conscience, and self-reproach. Many that fare deliciously every day, and whose bodies are healthful, have leanness in their souls: no love to God, no thankfulness, no appetite for the Bread of life, and then the soul must be lean. Those wretchedly forget themselves, that feast their bodies and starve their souls. Even the true believer will see abundant cause to say, It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not consumed. Often have we set up idols in our hearts, cleaved to some forbidden object; so that if a greater than Moses had not stood to turn away the anger of the Lord, we should have been destroyed. If God dealt severely with Moses for unadvised words, what do those deserve who speak many proud and wicked words? It is just in God to remove those relations that are blessings to us, when we are peevish and provoking to them, and grieve their spirits.

Psalms 106:34-48 Verses 34-48

The conduct of the Israelites in Canaan, and God's dealings with them, show that the way of sin is down-hill; omissions make way for commissions: when they neglected to destroy the heathen, they learned their works. One sin led to many more, and brought the judgments of God on them. Their sin was, in part, their own punishment. Sinners often see themselves ruined by those who led them into evil. Satan, who is a tempter, will be a tormentor. At length, God showed pity to his people for his covenant's sake. The unchangeableness of God's merciful nature and love to his people, makes him change the course of justice into mercy; and no other change is meant by God's repentance. Our case is awful when the outward church is considered. When nations professing Christianity, are so guilty as we are, no wonder if the Lord brings them low for their sins. Unless there is general and deep repentance, there can be no prospect but of increasing calamities. The psalm concludes with prayer for completing the deliverance of God's people, and praise for the beginning and progress of it. May all the people of the earth, ere long, add their Amen.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.

Psalms 106:1 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

Praise, &c.--(See on Ps 104:35), begins and ends the Psalm, intimating the obligations of praise, however we sin and suffer 1Ch 16:34-36 is the source from which the beginning and end of this Psalm are derived.

Psalms 106:1-48 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

Israel in all periods of their history, with special reference to the terms of the covenant as intimated (Ps 105:45). It is introduced by praise to God for the wonders of His mercy, and concluded by a supplication for His favor to His afflicted people, and a doxology.

Psalms 106:2 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

His acts exceed our comprehension, as His praise our powers of expression (Ro 11:33). Their unutterable greatness is not to keep us back, but to urge us the more to try to praise Him as best we can (Ps 40:5; 71:15).

Psalms 106:3 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

The blessing is limited to those whose principles and acts are right. How "blessed" Israel would be now, if he had "observed God's statutes" (Ps 105:45).

Psalms 106:4-5 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

In view of the desert of sins to be confessed, the writer invokes God's covenant mercy to himself and the Church, in whose welfare he rejoices. The speaker, me, I, is not the Psalmist himself, but the people, the present generation (compare Ps 106:6). visit--(Compare Ps 8:4).

Psalms 106:5 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

see the good--participate in it (Ps 37:13). thy chosen--namely, Israel, God's elect (Isa 43:20; 45:4). As God seems to have forgotten them, they pray that He would "remember" them with the favor which belongs to His own people, and which once they had enjoyed. thine inheritance--(De 9:29; 32:9).

Psalms 106:6 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

Compare 1Ki 8:47; Da 9:5, where the same three verbs occur in the same order and connection, the original of the two later passages being the first one, the prayer of Solomon in dedicating the temple. sinned ... fathers--like them, and so partaking of their guilt. The terms denote a rising gradation of sinning (compare Ps 1:1). with our fathers--we and they together forming one mass of corruption. 7-12. Special confession. Their rebellion at the sea (Ex 14:11) was because they had not remembered nor understood God's miracles on their behalf. That God saved them in their unbelief was of His mere mercy, and for His own glory. the sea ... the Red Sea--the very words in which Moses' song celebrated the scene of Israel's deliverance (Ex 15:4). Israel began to rebel against God at the very moment and scene of its deliverance by God!

Psalms 106:8 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

for his name's sake--(Eze 20:14).

Psalms 106:9 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

rebuked--(Ps 104:7). as through the wilderness--(Isa 63:11-14).

Psalms 106:12 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

believed ... his words--This is said not to praise the Israelites, but God, who constrained even so unbelieving a people momentarily to "believe" while in immediate view of His wonders, a faith which they immediately afterwards lost (Ps 106:13; Ex 14:31; 15:1). 13-15. The faith induced by God's display of power in their behalf was short lived, and their new rebellion and temptation was visited by God with fresh punishment, inflicted by leaving them to the result of their own gratified appetites, and sending on them spiritual poverty (Nu 11:18). They soon forgat--literally, "They hasted, they forgat" (compare Ex 32:8). "They have turned aside quickly (or, hastily) out of the way." The haste of our desires is such that we can scarcely allow God one day. Unless He immediately answers our call, instantly then arise impatience, and at length despair. his works--(De 11:3, 4; Da 9:14). his counsel--They waited not for the development of God's counsel, or plan for their deliverance, at His own time, and in His own way.

Psalms 106:14 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

Literally, "lusted a lust" (quoted from Nu 11:4, Margin). Previously, there had been impatience as to necessaries of life; here it is lusting (Ps 78:18).

Psalms 106:15 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

but sent leanness--rather, "and sent," that is, and thus, even in doing so, the punishment was inflicted at the very time their request was granted. So Ps 78:30, "While their meat was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them." soul--the animal soul, which craves for food (Nu 11:6; Ps 107:18). This soul got its wish, and with it and in it its own punishment. The place was therefore called Kibroth-hattaavah, "the graves of lust" [Nu 11:34], because there they buried the people who had lusted. Animal desires when gratified mostly give only a hungry craving for more (Jer 2:13). 16-18. All the congregation took part with Dathan, Korah, &c., and their accomplices (Nu 16:41). Aaron the saint--literally, "the holy one," as consecrated priest; not a moral attribute, but one designating his office as holy to the Lord. The rebellion was followed by a double punishment: (1) of the non-Levitical rebels, the Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram, &c. (De 11:6; Nu 26:10); these were swallowed up by the earth.

Psalms 106:17 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

covered--"closed upon them" (Nu 16:33). (2) Of the Levitical rebels, with Korah at their head (Nu 16:35; 26:10); these had sinned by fire, and were punished by fire, as Aaron's (being high priest) sons had been (Le 10:2; Nu 16:1-35). 19-23. From indirect setting God at naught, they pass to direct. made--though prohibited in Ex 20:4, 5 to make a likeness, even of the true God. calf--called so in contempt. They would have made an ox or bull, but their idol turned out but a calf; an imitation of the divine symbols, the cherubim; or of the sacred bull of Egyptian idolatry. The idolatry was more sinful in view of their recent experience of God's power in Egypt and His wonders at Sinai (Ex 32:1-6). Though intending to worship Jehovah under the symbol of the calf, yet as this was incompatible with His nature (De 4:15-17), they in reality gave up Him, and so were given up by Him. Instead of the Lord of heaven, they had as their glory the image of an ox that does nothing but eat grass.

Psalms 106:23 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

he said--namely, to Moses (De 9:13). With God, saying is as certain as doing; but His purpose, while full of wrath against sin, takes into account the mediation of Him of whom Moses was the type (Ex 32:11-14; De 9:18, 19). Moses his chosen--that is, to be His servant (compare Ps 105:26). in the breach--as a warrior covers with his body the broken part of a wall or fortress besieged, a perilous place (Eze 13:5; 22:30). to turn away--or, "prevent" his wrath--(Nu 25:11; Ps 78:38). 24-27. The sin of refusing to invade Canaan, "the pleasant land" (Jer 3:19; Eze 20:6; Da 8:9), "the land of beauty," was punished by the destruction of that generation (Nu 14:28), and the threat of dispersion (De 4:25; 28:32) afterwards made to their posterity, and fulfilled in the great calamities now bewailed, may have also been then added. despised--(Nu 14:31). believed not his word--by which He promised He would give them the land; but rather the word of the faithless spies (compare Ps 78:22).

Psalms 106:26 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

lifted up his hand--or, "swore," the usual form of swearing (compare Nu 14:30, Margin).

Psalms 106:27 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

To overthrow--literally, "To make them fall"; alluding to the words (Nu 14:39). among ... nations ... lands--The "wilderness" was not more destructive to the fathers (Ps 106:26) than residence among the heathen ("nations") shall be to the children. Le 26:33, 38 is here, before the Psalmist's mind, the determination against the "seed" when rebellious, being not expressed in Nu 14:31-33, but implied in the determination against the fathers. 28-30. sacrifices of the dead--that is, of lifeless idols, contrasted with "the living God" (Jer 10:3-10; compare Ps 115:4-7; 1Co 12:2). On the words, joined themselves to Baal-peor--see Nu 25:2, 3, 5. Baal-peor--that is, the possessor of Peor, the mountain on which Chemosh, the idol of Moab, was worshipped, and at the foot of which Israel at the time lay encamped (Nu 23:28). The name never occurs except in connection with that locality and that circumstance.

Psalms 106:29 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

provoked--excited grief and indignation (Ps 6:7; 78:58).

Psalms 106:30 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

stood--as Aaron "stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was stayed" (Nu 16:48). executed judgment--literally, "judged," including sentence and act.

Psalms 106:31 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

counted ... righteousness--"a just and rewardable action." for--or, "unto," to the procuring of righteousness, as in Ro 4:2; 10:4. Here it was a particular act, not faith, nor its object Christ; and what was procured was not justifying righteousness, or what was to be rewarded with eternal life; for no one act of man's can be taken for complete obedience. But it was that which God approved and rewarded with a perpetual priesthood to him and his descendants (Nu 25:13; 1Ch 6:4, &c.).

Psalms 106:32-33 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

(Compare Nu 20:3-12; De 1:37; 3:26). went ill with--literally, "was bad for" Moses--His conduct, though under great provocation, was punished by exclusion from Canaan. 34-39. They not only failed to expel the heathen, as God commanded--(Ex 23:32, 33), literally, "said (they should)," but conformed to their idolatries [Ps 106:36], and thus became spiritual adulterers (Ps 73:27).

Psalms 106:37 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

unto devils--Septuagint, "demons" (compare 1Co 10:20), or "evil spirits."

Psalms 106:38 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

polluted with blood--literally, "blood," or "murder" (Ps 5:6; 26:9). 40-43. Those nations first seduced and then oppressed them (compare Jud 1:34; 2:14; 3:30). Their apostasies ungratefully repaid God's many mercies till He finally abandoned them to punishment (Le 26:39). 44-46. If, as is probable, this Psalm was written at the time of the captivity, the writer now intimates the tokens of God's returning favor.

Psalms 106:45 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

repented--(compare Ps 90:13).

Psalms 106:46 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of

made ... pitied--(1Ki 8:50; Da 1:9). These tokens encourage the prayer and the promise of praise (Ps 30:4), which is well closed by a doxology. PSALM 107

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Righteousness See [535]JUSTIFICATION. Everlasting Eternal, applied to God (Gen. 21:33; Deut. 33:27; Ps. 41:13;… Hallelujah Praise ye Jehovah, frequently rendered "Praise ye the LORD," stands… Wilderness (1.) Heb. midhbar, denoting not a barren desert but a… Salvation This word is used of the deliverance of the Israelites… Phinehas Mouth of brass, or from old Egypt, the negro. (1.)… Covenant A contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old… Red Sea The sea so called extends along the west coast of… Justice Is rendering to every one that which is his due.… Meribah Quarrel or strife. (1.) One of the names given by… Captive One taken in war. Captives were often treated with great… Abiram Father of height; i.e., "proud." (1.) One of the sons… Chosen Spoken of warriors (Ex. 15:4; Judg. 20:16), of the Hebrew… Eating The ancient Hebrews would not eat with the Egyptians (Gen.… Israel The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at… Breach An opening in a wall (1 Kings 11:27; 2 Kings… Plague A "stroke" of affliction, or disease. Sent as a divine… Spirit (Heb. ruah; Gr. pneuma), properly wind or breath. In 2…

Psalms 106

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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Key Words and Topics

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Aaron: Character of Psalm 106:16

Aaron: Murmured Against, by the People Psalm 106:16

Abiram: An Israelite Who Conspired with Dathan Against Moses and Aaron Psalm 106:17

Affections: should not Grow Cold Psalm 106:12, 13

Afflictions and Adversities: Design of Psalm 106:43, 44

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Psalm 106:47

Afflictions and Adversities: Tempered with Mercy Psalm 106:43–46

Afflictions: Tempered with Mercy Psalm 106:43–46

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God are Ensnaring Psalm 106:36

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Have Led to Murder and Human Sacrifice Psalm 106:37, 38

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Provoke the Anger of God Psalm 106:29, 40

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Punishment of Psalm 106:41, 42

Amen used in Prayer Psalm 106:48

Anger: Anger of God Psalm 106:23, 29, 32

Answers To Prayer: Received by Those Who: Call Upon God Under Affliction Psalm 106:44

Baal-Peor: An Idol of Moab Psalm 106:28

Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Psalm 106:13, 14

Being Thankful Psalm 106:1

Blood: Shedding of Human: Defiling to the Land Psalm 106:38

Calf of Gold was Made: To Represent God Psalm 106:20

Calf of Gold: Making of a Forgetting of God Psalm 106:21

Calf of Gold: Molten in the Fire Psalm 106:19

Calf: Golden, Made by Aaron Psalm 106:19

Captive: Kindness To Psalm 106:46

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