INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 106, Exodus 13-15, Numbers 11, 16, 25
"In Psalm 105, WE REMEMBER God's mighty deeds. In Psalm 106, THEY FORGET His mighty deeds."Alexander McLaren
Psalm 106 is the last in the 4th Book of Psalms that were not all written by David. Although we are sure Psalm 105 was, and Psalm 106 begins and ends with the same "Prayes of Praise and Hallelujahs"; the last verses seem to be of Babylonian exile origin. Therefore, we believe, it is probable that it was written by Nehemiah or Ezra, or maybe even the prophet Jeremiah.
The theme of Psalm 106, unlike Psalm 105, is of Israel's rebellion. "Sin drives a wedge in our relationship with the Lord". In this Psalm we see that God's anger with His people, the Israelites, is prominent. But even more so, is GOD'S MERCY AND GRACE. Like our ancestors, "we stand guilty and deserve punishment"; but we also deserve LOVE, PARDONING, FORGIVENESS, REDEMPTION AND SALVATION.
"Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of His special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing UNFAILING LOVE. Once again You will have COMPASSION on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean." Micah 7:18&19 (NLT)
We are GOD'S CHILDREN, and like the Israelites before us, WE ARE BLESSED. Because God sent His Son Jesus, we can now "GIVE OUR LIVES TO HIM" and TRUST HIM for our SALVATION. We have been "COVERED WITH HIS BLOOD".
"For He has rescued us from the Kingdom of darkness, and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our FREEDOM AND FORGAVE OUR SINS." Colossians 1:13&14
"Thank God for HIS LOVE, GRACE AND MERCY; and rejoice in your FREEDOM."
Dave Veeman
PRAYER AND PRAISE - SEEKING THE LORD'S BLESSING: Read Psalm 106:1-5
This Psalm begins with a PRAYER OF PRAISE for the Lord's goodness and love. Love and kindness endure forever, even to the rebellious Israel. Even more are God's blessings and joy to those "who keep justice and walk in righteousness."
"Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful love endures forever."
Psalm 106:1 (NLT)
"There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right." Psalm 106:3 (NLT)
The Psalmist is pleading with God:
* for His salvation and the salvation the Israelites.
* for greater fellowship with His Father God.
* to share in the inheritance that was promised to them.
"We want to walk closer to God. It begins with praising the Lord, pleading on behalf of himself and a God's rebellious and ungrateful people." Charles Spurgeon
OUT OF EGYPT - SEEKING FORGIVENESS: Read Psalm 106:6-12; Exodus 13-15; Nehemiah 9:9-12
The tone of this Psalm changes in Verses 6&7, with the Psalmist's confession of his sins of his ancestors and his own personal transgressions. There was no attempt to blame anyone; he simply made an honest confession.
"Like our ancestors we have sinned. We have done wrong! We have acted wickedly! Our ancestors in Egypt weree not impressed by the Lord's miraculous deeds. They soon forgot His many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against Him at the Red Sea." Psalm 106:6&7
"We have sinned with our forefathers. The present generation were repeating these sins in the same way." David Guzik.
I was very blessed to have had godly parents who brought me up in the ways of the Lord and His Word. But their were still times I wanted to go "my own way" and to follow the "ways of the world". I could have been easily tempted "to rebel". No matter how "our ancestors have lived", the choice is stil ours. Which direction do we go - God's way or our own!
What a contrast for their contrast the desert was, to their land they had left in Goshen, Egypt. With no way to provide for themselves, they started to complain. God performed daily miracles, providing for their everyday needs; but when they started focusing on the "MATERIAL NEEDS" they stopped focusing ON GOD.
God was in charge of their journey - SUSTAINING, TESTING and ENCOURAGING them, yet they still rebelled. God's destiny for their lives was SALVATION, just like it is for us. But sometimes we need to "stop along the way", when "God's sovereign plan" and "our earthly plan" collide.
"We must listen to the Lord so He can change our PRIDE INTO HUMILITY; our DOUBT INTO FAITH; and our ANXIETY INTO PEACE. THE LORD CAN AND WILL DO IT! Don't be impatient when the Lord takes you on a longer route. Accept the path He has for you. Be content with God's purpose for your life." Max Lucado
God doesn't give up on His people, not only for their sake, but for His own. The brilliance of God's grace and miraculous miracles at the Red Sea are a witness to all people of God's great mercy and greatness. After seeing God's miracles, the Israelites praised the Lord.
"But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." Exodus 14:13&14 (NLT)
"You saw this misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharoah, his officials and all his people, for you know how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten. You divided your sea for the people so they could walk on dry land! And then you hurled their enemies into the depths of the sea. They sank like stones beneath the mighty waters." Nehemiah 9:9-11 (NLT)
"Then the people believed His promises. They sang His praises." Psalm 106:2 (NLT)
"The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my SALVATION. This is my God - and I WILL PRAISE HIM. My Father's God and I WILL EXALT HIM." Exodus 15:2 (NIV)
IN THE WILDERNESS - REBELLION & IDOLATRY: Read Psalm 106:13-23; Numbers 11&16; Exodus 32
The CELEBRATION of the Israelites soon turned to LUSRTING AFTER MATERIAL THINGS. Two years had passed since they had left Egypt. They had brought the Ark of the Covenant, in which they placed God's LAWS AND PROMISES, and they placed it in a Meeting Tent so they could WORSHIP THE LORD. But now they had forgotten what God had done for them, and they continued to test Him in the wilderness. They wanted something that wasn't really good or meaniungful for them.
REBELLION
"Is this the same with us? We see God's miracles, but at the first sign of opposition we forget what God has done for us and are soon rebelling again." James Montgomery Boice
Some of the Levites envied Moses and Aaron because they were humble servants of the Lord. Korah, Dathan ans Abiram led a rebellion that led in their disastrous deaths, and a plague in the land. God was angry with these men, and although Moses sought His mercy; God had chosen His leaders - Moses and Aaron - and he knew they deserved the respect and support of His people.
"Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites - Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliah, an On, son of Peleth - became inbsolenty and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well know community leaders who had been appointed members of the council." Numbers 16:1&2
"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "Seperate yourselves from the assembly so I can put an end to them at once.
But Moses and Aaron fell face down and cried out: "O God, the God who gives breath to all things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?"
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Say to the assembly: "Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiuram"
Moses warned the assembly: "Move back from the tents of these wicked men. Do not touch anything belonging to them....." So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.....As soom as He had finished saying all this, the ground under the, split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah and their posssessions."Numbers 16:20-23, 26&27, 31&32 (NIV)
"Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would not be a benefit to you." Hebrews 13:17
"We must show loyalty to our leaders when the way is tough, and the future may not look bright. Most of all STAY LOYAL TO OUR GREAT LEADER, who surely knows the way home."
Charles Swindoll
IDOLATRY
This Psalm is not in chronological order, according to the book of Exodus. We now read, how at the foot of Mt Sinai, while Moses what up on the mountain meeting with the Lord, the Israelities were becoming weary and impatient. He was taking a long time to come down from the mountain, and they decided to build themselves "their own god" - an idol they could worship. They lost faith in God and in Moses.
This is not just an "Israelite sin". We too, at times get frustrated, and ignore God with our ingratitude and the "worship" of our own "idols".
When Moses finally came down from the mountain and saw what his people had done, he, like God was very angry. God wanted to destroy them, but Moses just lost his temper and "smashed the stone tablet" that were written the 10 Commandments. When he had calmed down, he "took a deep breath" and "stood in the breach", pleading with God on behalf of the Israelite people. And God, in His grace and mercy, answered his prayer.
"I have seen these people", the Lord said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation." Exodus 32:10 (NIV)
"So he said He would destroy them, had not Moses, His chosen One, stood in the breach before Him to keep His wrath from destroying them." Psalm 106:23 (NIV)
"The metiphor, "stood in the breach" is derived from military language, signifying the bravery of a soldier who stands in the breach of a wall, willing to give his life to ward off the enemy. (Ezekial 22:30)
So Moses stood bravely in the presence of the Almighty God on behalf of Israel."
William VanGermeren
"Jesus, like Moses, "stood in the breach" for us. He put His life on the cross, so that we could receive FORGIVENESS, REDEMPTION and SALVATION from our sins, just as the Israelites did."
David Guzik
TOWARDS THE PROMISED LAND: GRUMBLING AND MINGLING WITH THEIR ENEMIES- Read Psalm 106:24-39; Nehemiah 9:24-36; Numbers 14, 25.
God directed the Israelites back into the wilderness of Paran for 40years, heading towards the Promised Land. He was with them every step of the way, showing them His grace and mercy; though they still began to curse God again.
"In your great mercy you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD YOU ARE!" Nehemiah 9:31 (NLT)
GRUMBLING & COMPLAINING
The Israelites were grumbling and complainiung along the way. They did not believe Joshua and Caleb, who had gone on before them to "spy out the land". They despised what God had given to them as their "Promised Land", and they did not heed the voice of the Lord. Because of this, God punished their lack of faith and they faced hardship alomg the way.
"Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord." Psalm 106:24-25 (NIV)
Do have a relationship with God that is based on CONFIDENCE AND TRUST, or do you like to DO THINGS YOUR OWN WAY, in your own strength. Believe that the Lord is always with you, even when you don't see the "evidence of His presence and power".
"Consider the areas of your life where you find it hard to TRUST GOD. When things are going well or poorly? When you are most self sufficient or when you need to depend on the Lord? PRAY FOR WISDOM IN THESE TIMES!" Charles Swindoll
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5&6 (NIV)
MINGLING WITH THEIR ENEMIES
God gave them over to their enemies. Many times they were delivered, but still they continued to rebel. They were "stiff necked" and stubborn, disobedient to the Lord and following the ways of their enemy nations.
The Israelites pagan IDOL WORSHIP led them to be self centred and proud. They sacrificed their sons and daughteras to demons and their land was polluted with the blood of "aborted" babies. Again, they worshipped Baal and God sent another plague on His people.
"God wanted the Israelites to make war against the Canaanites to serve His purpose of judgement. God also wanted the Caananites removed so they would not be an evil influence upon the Israelites, leading them into the worship of idols and their evil ways. Israel's failure to do as God commanded meant the evil influence corrupted God's people." David Guzik
"They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices to lifeless gods; they aroused the Lord's anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them. But Phinehas stood upo and intervened, and the plague was checked. This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come." Psalm 106:23-31 (NIV)
MOSES TROUBLE
Moses demonstrated consistency in following the Lord, but we all have our failures, even when we are leaders. His two main problems in serving the Israelites were:
1. He focused on HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, and THEY EXPECTED TOO MUCH OF HIM.
2. Sometimes HE EXPECTED TOO MUCH OF THE ISRAELITES.
"By the waters of Meribah they angered the Lord and trouble came to Moses because of them. They rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses' lips." Psalm 106:32&33 (NIV)
God told Moses to "speak" to the rock, and in his anger he "struck it."
"But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them."
Numbers 20:12 (NLT)
Serving people for the sake of gratitude will guarantee disapointment. Just when you feel you are beginning to serve them well, they will let you down. The best relationships we need to focus on, like Moses, is our Father God; then we will overflow with love for the people we serve.
In Leadership - misrepresenting the Lord is a sin. God holds us responsible for "acting too rashly". Moses "staggered and stammered" in his speech, a sign that his anger was overwhelming him. We to need be really careful what we say and do when we are filled with emotion, especially when we are respresenting the Lord.
God still pointed His people to the Promised Land, with new leaders, JOSHUA AND CALEB, and a new generation of people.
"They will never even see the land I swore to give to their ancestors. None of thosen who have treated me with contempt will ever see it. But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have....You will not enter and occup the land I swore to give you. The only exception will be Caleb, son of Jephunneh and Joshuaa son of Nun." Numbers 14:23,24, &30 (NLT)
"God has a purpose for you in your life and HE WILL FULFILL IT, so fulfill it without grumbling."
Max Lucado
EXILE TO BABYLON: GOD'S GRACE, MERCY & SALVATION - Read Psalm 106:40-47;Ezra1:1-8, 3, 6:16-22;Nehemiah 1:8-11,2:11-20, 6:15&16; Jeremiah 29
Finally, we have these last verses of "EXILE". The Gentile Babylonians had taken the land and the people of Israel. Some of the poorestr people had remained in their homes the farm the land for the Babylonian leaders, but most of the "important, wealthy and educated" people had been taken to Babylon.
God regarded their afflicted and remembered His covenant with them. As we read in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, and even the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord was faithful and loving. He promised to bring all his people back to Jerusalem, to rebuild the city and the Temple, so they could again worship the Lord in their own land.
"This is what the Lord says, "You will be in Babylon for 70 years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you homw again. "For I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord, "they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:10&11
In Verse 47, the Psalmist, who we believe could be Nehemiah, for the tone is very similar to his prayers in his book. He is crying out to the Lord for mercy and salvation.
"Save us, O Lord our God! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your Holy name and rejoice and praise you." Psalm 101:47
"Then I sai, "O Lord, God of Heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of unfailing love with those who love Him and obey His commands. Listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel, I confess that we have sinned against You. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned......Please remember what you told your servant Moses, "If you are unfaithul to me I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to Me and obey My commands and live by them, then even when you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for My Name to be honoured".......... "Oh Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those who us who delight in honouring You".
Nehemiah 1:5&6,8-10 (NLT)
CONCLUSION - DOXOLOGY - Read Psalm 106:48
Verse 48 is a "DOXOLOGY" - a verse of PRAISE AND HALLELUJAH's. It marks the end of the 4th Book of Psalms. We praise the Lord FOREVER AND EVER, because He is an ETERNAL GOD. We say "AMEN" - glorifying the Lord and saying a BIG THANKYOU for all He has done, and will continue to do for us.
"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say: "AMEN!" Praise the Lord!" Psalm 106:48 (NLT)
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