Psalms 106
Psalms 106 is part of “Book IV: The Numbers Book” (90–106) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 106 summary
We must give glory to God by making confession, not only of his goodness but our own badness, which serve as foils to each other. Our badness makes his goodness appear the more illustrious, as his goodness makes our badness the more heinous and scandalous. The foregoing psalm was a history of God's goodness to Israel; this is a history of their rebellions and provocations, and yet it begins and ends with Hallelujah; for even sorrow for sin must not put us out of tune for praising God. Some think it was penned at the time of the captivity in Babylon and the dispersion of the Jewish nation thereupon, because of that prayer in the close (Psa…
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We must give glory to God by making confession, not only of his goodness but our own badness, which serve as foils to each other. Our badness makes his goodness appear the more illustrious, as his goodness makes our badness the more heinous and scandalous. The foregoing psalm was a history of God's goodness to Israel; this is a history of their rebellions and provocations, and yet it begins and ends with Hallelujah; for even sorrow for sin must not put us out of tune for praising God. Some think it was penned at the time of the captivity in Babylon and the dispersion of the Jewish nation thereupon, because of that prayer in the close (Psa 106:47). I rather think it was penned by David at the same time with the foregoing psalm, because we find the first verse and the last two verses in that psalm which David delivered to Asaph, at the bringing up of the ark to the place he had prepared for it (Ch1 16:34-36), "Gather us from among the heathen;" for we may suppose that in Saul's time there was a great dispersion of pious Israelites, when David was forced to wander. In this psalm we have, I. The preface to the narrative, speaking honour to God (Psa 106:1, Psa 106:2), comfort to the saints (Psa 106:3), and the desire of the faithful towards God's favour (Psa 106:4, Psa 106:5). II. The narrative itself of the sins of Israel, aggravated by the great things God did for them, an account of which is intermixed. Their provocations at the Red Sea (Psa 106:6-12), lusting (Psa 106:13-15), mutinying (Psa 106:16-18), worshipping the golden calf (Psa 106:19-23), murmuring (Psa 106:24-27), joining themselves to Baal-peor (Psa 106:28-31), quarrelling with Moses (Psa 106:32, Psa 106:33), incorporating themselves with the nations of Canaan (Psa 106:34-39). To this is added an account how God had rebuked them for their sins, and yet saved them from ruin (Psa 106:40-46). III. The conclusion of the psalm with prayer and praise (Psa 106:47, Psa 106:48). It may be of use to us to sing this psalm, that, being put in mind by it of our sins, the sins of our land, and the sins of our fathers, we may be humbled before God and yet not despair of mercy, which even rebellious Israel often found with God.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Psalms 106 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Give Thanks to the Lord
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.