The immense patience and pity of Jehovah ought ever to be a reason for praise, not presumption. Beginning in verse 13, Psalm 106 compiles an ugly laundry list of infamous days in Israel’s history:
- In the Wilderness of Sin they forgot His deliverance from Egypt, did not wait for His counsel and lusted exceedingly—testing Him (vv. 13-15).
- In Kadesh they envied Moses and Aaron (vv. 16-18).
- At Mount Horeb they made and worshipped a golden calf at Mount Horeb (vv. 19-23).
- At Kadesh Barnea they refused to obey God’s command to conquer Canaan; they believed not His word and complained in their tents (vv. 24-27).
- At Peor they joined themselves to the idol Baal and ate sacrifices to the dead (vv. 28-31).
- At Meribah they angered God and provoked Moses to speak rashly with his lips—preventing him from entering the Promised Land (vv. 32-33).
- In Canaan they failed to obey God’s command to completely exterminate the idolatrous inhabitants. They learned idolatry and served idols, even engaging in child sacrifices to demons (vv. 34-39).
- They so lived that “the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people, so that He abhorred His own inheritance. And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, and those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. Many times He delivered them; but they rebelled in their counsel and were brought low for their iniquity” (vv. 40-43).
“NEVERTHELESS He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry; and for their sake He remembered His covenant and relented according to the multitude of His mercies. He also made them to be pitied by all those who carried them away captive” (vv. 44-46).
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
“Praise the Lord!” (v. 48)
Praise the God of “Nevertheless”.
