“A MARVELOUS HISTORIC PSALM OF PRAISE” PSALM 106:1-48

We come now to another beautiful historic psalm of praise where the psalmist is praising God for the wonderful deeds toward Israel.  This psalm, like psalm 105, will unfold the faithfulness of God despite the failures of His people.  God is indeed faithful and merciful unto His people, and we ought to join the psalmist in Psalm 107:1-2, as he says, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good for His mercy endureth for ever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.”

The psalmist begins this remarkable psalm by uttering praise to the Lord for His goodness and His mighty acts demonstrated toward His people (vv. 1-5).  Certainly God has blessed His people and we ought to be a grateful people.  Verse 2 begs the question, “Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all His praise?”  Are you really thankful for the rich blessings of the Lord?  In view of God’s goodness, the psalmist makes a confession with relation to the sins of his forefathers, for verse 6 says: “We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.”

In verses 7-12, the psalmist relates the sins of Israel in their rebellious activity at the crossing of the Red Sea despite God’s demonstration of power.  He points out “Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked Him at the sea, even at the Red sea.  Nevertheless, He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty power to be known” (vv. 7-8).  After God had delivered Israel, they sung triumphantly about God’s saving power (Exodus 15:1-21).  The psalmist  continued to recount the numerous examples of unbelief Israel committed in the wilderness despite the Lord’s faithful dealings among His people (vv. 13-33).   The psalmist makes clear, “They soon forgat His works; they waited not for His counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert (vv. 13-14).

As people of God today, we need to always be thankful to God for His abundant blessings in our lives, and let us join the psalmist in Psalm 105:1-3 as he says, “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.  Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him: talk ye of all His wondrous works.  Glory ye in His Holy name:  let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.”

With reference to verses 34-46, the psalmist again recalls the many acts of disobedience of the nation of Israel; however, the Lord still displayed His covenant faithfulness to Israel.  Specifically, he points out, “They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.  And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them” (vv. 34-36).  The psalmist concludes this wonderful historic psalm by praying for God’s deliverance of Israel, for he says: “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting, and let all the people say, Amen.  Praise ye the Lord” (vv. 47-48).

May God Bless!