Psalm 106 — A Confession of Israel's History
This psalm is a communal confession that recounts Israel's long history of rebellion and God's repeated acts of mercy throughout their journey.
1Praise the LORD!*LORD or GOD in all caps is from the Hebrew יהוה Yahweh except when otherwise noted as being from the short form יה Yah.
2Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD,
3Blessed are those who keep justice.
4Remember me, LORD, with the favor that you show to your people.
5that I may see the prosperity of your chosen,
6We have sinned with our fathers.
7Our fathers didn’t understand your wonders in Egypt.
8Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake,
9He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up;
10He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,
11The waters covered their adversaries.
12Then they believed his words.
13They soon forgot his works.
14but gave in to craving in the desert,
15He gave them their request,
16They envied Moses also in the camp,
17The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
18A fire was kindled in their company.
19They made a calf in Horeb,
20Thus they exchanged their glory
21They forgot God, their Savior,
22wondrous works in the land of Ham,
23Therefore he said that he would destroy them,
24Yes, they despised the pleasant land.
25but murmured in their tents,
26Therefore he swore to them
27that he would overthrow their offspring among the nations,
28They joined themselves also to Baal Peor,
29Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds.
30Then Phinehas stood up and executed judgment,
31That was credited to him for righteousness,
32They angered him also at the waters of Meribah,
33because they were rebellious against his spirit,
34They didn’t destroy the peoples,
35but mixed themselves with the nations,
36They served their idols,
37Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
38They shed innocent blood,
39Thus they were defiled with their works,
40Therefore the LORD burned with anger against his people.
41He gave them into the hand of the nations.
42Their enemies also oppressed them.
43He rescued them many times,
44Nevertheless he regarded their distress,
45He remembered for them his covenant,
46He made them also to be pitied
47Save us, LORD, our God,
48Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalm 106:1
“Praise the LORD!”
The psalm begins with a Hallelujah, setting a tone of worship despite the heavy confession that follows.
Psalm 106:8
“Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power known.”
This verse explains that God's deliverance is based on His own character and reputation rather than the merit of the people.
Psalm 106:45
“He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.”
This highlights the basis of Israel's hope: God's commitment to His promises and His abundant mercy.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 106 is a historical psalm that focuses on the persistent failures of the Israelite people in contrast to the enduring faithfulness of God. It begins with a call to praise and a personal prayer for favor, then transitions into a detailed confession of national sin, acknowledging that the current generation has sinned like their ancestors. The psalmist reviews key events of disobedience: unbelief at the Red Sea, craving food in the desert, the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram, the golden calf at Horeb, and the refusal to enter the Promised Land. It also mentions the idolatry at Baal Peor and the rebellion at the waters of Meribah. Throughout these cycles of judgment and suffering, the text emphasizes how God remembered His covenant and rescued the people for His name's sake. The psalm concludes with a plea for the gathered people to be saved and a doxology praising the God of Israel forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main theme is the contrast between Israel's repeated rebellion and God's steadfast mercy. It serves as a historical confession, acknowledging that the people have sinned just as their ancestors did from the time of the Exodus onward.
The psalm references several key events from the Pentateuch, including the crossing of the Red Sea, the golden calf at Horeb, the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram, the incidents at Meribah, and the idolatry involving Baal Peor.
Phinehas is mentioned in verse 30 as the one who stood up and executed judgment during the rebellion at Baal Peor. The text notes that his intervention stayed the plague and was credited to him as righteousness.
The psalm ends with a prayer for God to gather His people from among the nations so they can give thanks to His holy name. It concludes with a formal doxology blessing the God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting.
Study Note
Psalm 106 is the final psalm in the fourth book of the Psalter and concludes with a formal doxology that marks the transition to the fifth and final section of the Psalms.
Related Chapters
Psalm 105
Psalm 105 provides a positive historical recount of God's wonders, serving as a companion to the confession found in Psalm 106.
Exodus 32
This chapter describes the incident of the golden calf which is specifically confessed in Psalm 106.
Numbers 25
This chapter records the events at Baal Peor and the actions of Phinehas referenced in this psalm.
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