1PraiseH1984 ye the LORDH3050. O give thanksH3034 unto the LORDH3068; for he is goodH2896: for his mercyH2617 endureth for everH5769. 2Who can utterH4448 the mighty actsH1369 of the LORDH3068? who can shew forthH8085 all his praiseH8416? 3BlessedH835 are they that keepH8104 judgmentH4941, and he that doethH6213 righteousnessH6666 at all timesH6256. 4RememberH2142 me, O LORDH3068, with the favourH7522 that thou bearest unto thy peopleH5971: O visitH6485 me with thy salvationH3444; 5That I may seeH7200 the goodH2896 of thy chosenH972, that I may rejoiceH8055 in the gladnessH8057 of thy nationH1471, that I may gloryH1984 with thine inheritanceH5159. 6We have sinnedH2398 with our fathersH1, we have committed iniquityH5753, we have done wickedlyH7561 . 7Our fathersH1 understoodH7919 not thy wondersH6381 in EgyptH4714; they rememberedH2142 not the multitudeH7230 of thy merciesH2617; but provokedH4784 him at the seaH3220, even at the RedH5488 seaH3220. 8Nevertheless he savedH3467 them for his name'sH8034 sake, that he might make his mighty powerH1369 to be knownH3045 . 9He rebukedH1605 the RedH5488 seaH3220 also, and it was dried upH2717 : so he ledH3212 them through the depthsH8415, as through the wildernessH4057. 10And he savedH3467 them from the handH3027 of him that hatedH8130 them, and redeemedH1350 them from the handH3027 of the enemyH341 . 11And the watersH4325 coveredH3680 their enemiesH6862: there was not oneH259 of them leftH3498 . 12Then believedH539 they his wordsH1697; they sangH7891 his praiseH8416. 13They soonH4116 forgatH7911 his worksH4639; they waitedH2442 not for his counselH6098: 14But lustedH183 exceedinglyH8378 in the wildernessH4057, and temptedH5254 GodH410 in the desertH3452. 15And he gaveH5414 them their requestH7596; but sentH7971 leannessH7332 into their soulH5315. 16They enviedH7065 MosesH4872 also in the campH4264, and AaronH175 the saintH6918 of the LORDH3068. 17The earthH776 openedH6605 and swallowed upH1104 DathanH1885, and coveredH3680 the companyH5712 of AbiramH48. 18And a fireH784 was kindledH1197 in their companyH5712; the flameH3852 burned upH3857 the wickedH7563. 19They madeH6213 a calfH5695 in HorebH2722, and worshippedH7812 the molten imageH4541. 20Thus they changedH4171 their gloryH3519 into the similitudeH8403 of an oxH7794 that eatethH398 grassH6212. 21They forgatH7911 GodH410 their saviourH3467, which had doneH6213 great thingsH1419 in EgyptH4714; 22Wondrous worksH6381 in the landH776 of HamH2526, and terrible thingsH3372 by the RedH5488 seaH3220. 23Therefore he saidH559 that he would destroyH8045 them, had notH3884 MosesH4872 his chosenH972 stoodH5975 beforeH6440 him in the breachH6556, to turn awayH7725 his wrathH2534, lest he should destroyH7843 them. 24Yea, they despisedH3988 the pleasantH2532 landH776, they believedH539 not his wordH1697: 25But murmuredH7279 in their tentsH168, and hearkenedH8085 not unto the voiceH6963 of the LORDH3068. 26Therefore he lifted upH5375 his handH3027 against them, to overthrowH5307 them in the wildernessH4057: 27To overthrowH5307 their seedH2233 also among the nationsH1471, and to scatterH2219 them in the landsH776. 28They joinedH6775 themselves also unto BaalpeorH1187, and ateH398 the sacrificesH2077 of the deadH4191 . 29Thus they provoked him to angerH3707 with their inventionsH4611: and the plagueH4046 brake inH6555 upon them. 30Then stood upH5975 PhinehasH6372, and executed judgmentH6419 : and so the plagueH4046 was stayedH6113 . 31And that was countedH2803 unto him for righteousnessH6666 unto allH1755 generationsH1755 forH5704 evermoreH5769. 32They angeredH7107 him also at the watersH4325 of strifeH4808 H4809, so that it went illH3415 with MosesH4872 for their sakes: 33Because they provokedH4784 his spiritH7307, so that he spake unadvisedlyH981 with his lipsH8193. 34They did not destroyH8045 the nationsH5971, concerning whom the LORDH3068 commandedH559 them: 35But were mingledH6148 among the heathenH1471, and learnedH3925 their worksH4639. 36And they servedH5647 their idolsH6091: which were a snareH4170 unto them. 37Yea, they sacrificedH2076 their sonsH1121 and their daughtersH1323 unto devilsH7700, 38And shedH8210 innocentH5355 bloodH1818, even the bloodH1818 of their sonsH1121 and of their daughtersH1323, whom they sacrificedH2076 unto the idolsH6091 of CanaanH3667: and the landH776 was pollutedH2610 with bloodH1818. 39Thus were they defiledH2930 with their own worksH4639, and went a whoringH2181 with their own inventionsH4611. 40Therefore was the wrathH639 of the LORDH3068 kindledH2734 against his peopleH5971, insomuch that he abhorredH8581 his own inheritanceH5159. 41And he gaveH5414 them into the handH3027 of the heathenH1471; and they that hatedH8130 them ruledH4910 over them. 42Their enemiesH341 also oppressedH3905 them, and they were brought into subjectionH3665 under their handH3027. 43ManyH7227 timesH6471 did he deliverH5337 them; but they provokedH4784 him with their counselH6098, and were brought lowH4355 for their iniquityH5771. 44Nevertheless he regardedH7200 their afflictionH6862, when he heardH8085 their cryH7440: 45And he rememberedH2142 for them his covenantH1285, and repentedH5162 according to the multitudeH7230 of his merciesH2617. 46He madeH5414 them also to be pitiedH7356 ofH6440 all those that carried them captivesH7617 . 47SaveH3467 us, O LORDH3068 our GodH430, and gatherH6908 us from among the heathenH1471, to give thanksH3034 unto thy holyH6944 nameH8034, and to triumphH7623 in thy praiseH8416. 48BlessedH1288 be the LORDH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478 from everlastingH5769 to everlastingH5769: and let all the peopleH5971 sayH559, AmenH543. PraiseH1984 ye the LORDH3050.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 This Psalm gives a detailed confession of the sins of Israel in all periods of their history, with special reference to the terms of the covenant as intimated (
Ps 105:45). It is introduced by praise to God for the wonders of His mercy, and concluded by a supplication for His favor to His afflicted people, and a doxology. (Psa. 106:1-48)
Praise, &c.--(See on
Ps 104:35), begins and ends the Psalm, intimating the obligations of praise, however we sin and suffer
1Chr 16:34-36 is the source from which the beginning and end of this Psalm are derived.
2 His acts exceed our comprehension, as His praise our powers of expression (
Rom 11:33). Their unutterable greatness is not to keep us back, but to urge us the more to try to praise Him as best we can (
Ps 40:5;
Ps 71:15).
3 The blessing is limited to those whose principles and acts are right. How "blessed" Israel would be now, if he had "observed God's statutes" (
Ps 105:45).
4 In view of the desert of sins to be confessed, the writer invokes God's covenant mercy to himself and the Church, in whose welfare he rejoices. The speaker, me, I, is not the Psalmist himself, but the people, the present generation (compare
Ps 106:6).
visit--(Compare
Ps 8:4).
5 see the good--participate in it (
Ps 37:13).
thy chosen--namely, Israel, God's elect (
Isa 43:20;
Isa 45:4). As God seems to have forgotten them, they pray that He would "remember" them with the favor which belongs to His own people, and which once they had enjoyed.
thine inheritance-- (
Deut 9:29;
Deut 32:9).
6 Compare
1Kgs 8:47;
Dan 9:5, where the same three verbs occur in the same order and connection, the original of the two later passages being the first one, the prayer of Solomon in dedicating the temple.
sinned . . . fathers--like them, and so partaking of their guilt. The terms denote a rising gradation of sinning (compare
Ps 1:1).
with our fathers--we and they together forming one mass of corruption.
7 Special confession. Their rebellion at the sea (
Exod 14:11) was because they had not remembered nor understood God's miracles on their behalf. That God saved them in their unbelief was of His mere mercy, and for His own glory.
the sea . . . the Red Sea--the very words in which Moses' song celebrated the scene of Israel's deliverance (
Exod 15:4). Israel began to rebel against God at the very moment and scene of its deliverance by God!
8 for his name's sake-- (
Ezek 20:14).
9 rebuked-- (
Ps 104:7).
as through the wilderness-- (
Isa 63:11-
Isa 63:14).
12 believed . . . his words--This is said not to praise the Israelites, but God, who constrained even so unbelieving a people momentarily to "believe" while in immediate view of His wonders, a faith which they immediately afterwards lost (
Ps 106:13;
Exod 14:31;
Exod 15:1).
13 The faith induced by God's display of power in their behalf was short lived, and their new rebellion and temptation was visited by God with fresh punishment, inflicted by leaving them to the result of their own gratified appetites, and sending on them spiritual poverty (
Num 11:18).
They soon forgat--literally, "They hasted, they forgat" (compare
Exod 32:8). "They have turned aside quickly (or, hastily) out of the way." The haste of our desires is such that we can scarcely allow God one day. Unless He immediately answers our call, instantly then arise impatience, and at length despair.
his works-- (
Deut 11:3-
Deut 11:4;
Dan 9:14).
his counsel--They waited not for the development of God's counsel, or plan for their deliverance, at His own time, and in His own way.
14 Literally, "lusted a lust" (quoted from
Num 11:4, Margin). Previously, there had been impatience as to necessaries of life; here it is lusting (
Ps 78:18).
15 but sent leanness--rather, "and sent," that is, and thus, even in doing so, the punishment was inflicted at the very time their request was granted. So
Ps 78:30, "While their meat was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them."
soul--the animal soul, which craves for food (
Num 11:6;
Ps 107:18). This soul got its wish, and with it and in it its own punishment. The place was therefore called Kibroth-hattaavah, "the graves of lust" [
Num 11:34], because there they buried the people who had lusted. Animal desires when gratified mostly give only a hungry craving for more (
Jer 2:13).
16 All the congregation took part with Dathan, Korah, &c., and their accomplices (
Num 16:41).
Aaron the saint--literally, "the holy one," as consecrated priest; not a moral attribute, but one designating his office as holy to the Lord. The rebellion was followed by a double punishment: (1) of the non-Levitical rebels, the Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram, &c. (
Deut 11:6;
Num 26:10); these were swallowed up by the earth.
17 covered--"closed upon them" (
Num 16:33). (2) Of the Levitical rebels, with Korah at their head (
Num 16:35;
Num 26:10); these had sinned by fire, and were punished by fire, as Aaron's (being high priest) sons had been (
Lev 10:2; Num. 16:1-35).
19 From indirect setting God at naught, they pass to direct.
made--though prohibited in
Exod 20:4-
Exod 20:5 to make a likeness, even of the true God.
calf--called so in contempt. They would have made an ox or bull, but their idol turned out but a calf; an imitation of the divine symbols, the cherubim; or of the sacred bull of Egyptian idolatry. The idolatry was more sinful in view of their recent experience of God's power in Egypt and His wonders at Sinai (
Exod 32:1-
Exod 32:6). Though intending to worship Jehovah under the symbol of the calf, yet as this was incompatible with His nature (
Deut 4:15-
Deut 4:17), they in reality gave up Him, and so were given up by Him. Instead of the Lord of heaven, they had as their glory the image of an ox that does nothing but eat grass.
23 he said--namely, to Moses (
Deut 9:13). With God, saying is as certain as doing; but His purpose, while full of wrath against sin, takes into account the mediation of Him of whom Moses was the type (
Exod 32:11-
Exod 32:14;
Deut 9:18-
Deut 9:19).
Moses his chosen--that is, to be His servant (compare
Ps 105:26).
in the breach--as a warrior covers with his body the broken part of a wall or fortress besieged, a perilous place (
Ezek 13:5;
Ezek 22:30).
to turn away--or, "prevent"
his wrath-- (
Num 25:11;
Ps 78:38).
24 The sin of refusing to invade Canaan, "the pleasant land" (
Jer 3:19;
Ezek 20:6;
Dan 8:9), "the land of beauty," was punished by the destruction of that generation (
Num 14:28), and the threat of dispersion (
Deut 4:25;
Deut 28:32) afterwards made to their posterity, and fulfilled in the great calamities now bewailed, may have also been then added.
despised-- (
Num 14:31).
believed not his word--by which He promised He would give them the land; but rather the word of the faithless spies (compare
Ps 78:22).
26 lifted up his hand--or, "swore," the usual form of swearing (compare
Num 14:30, Margin).
27 To overthrow--literally, "To make them fall"; alluding to the words (
Num 14:39).
among . . . nations . . . lands--The "wilderness" was not more destructive to the fathers (
Ps 106:26) than residence among the heathen ("nations") shall be to the children.
Lev 26:33,
Lev 26:38 is here, before the Psalmist's mind, the determination against the "seed" when rebellious, being not expressed in
Num 14:31-
Num 14:33, but implied in the determination against the fathers.
28 sacrifices of the dead--that is, of lifeless idols, contrasted with "the living God" (
Jer 10:3-
Jer 10:10; compare
Ps 115:4-
Ps 115:7;
1Cor 12:2). On the words,
joined themselves to Baal-peor--see
Num 25:2-
Num 25:3,
Num 25:5.
Baal-peor--that is, the possessor of Peor, the mountain on which Chemosh, the idol of Moab, was worshipped, and at the foot of which Israel at the time lay encamped (
Num 23:28). The name never occurs except in connection with that locality and that circumstance.
29 provoked--excited grief and indignation (
Ps 6:7;
Ps 78:58).
30 stood--as Aaron "stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was stayed" (
Num 16:48).
executed judgment--literally, "judged," including sentence and act.
31 counted . . . righteousness--"a just and rewardable action."
for--or, "unto," to the procuring of righteousness, as in
Rom 4:2;
Rom 10:4. Here it was a particular act, not faith, nor its object Christ; and what was procured was not justifying righteousness, or what was to be rewarded with eternal life; for no one act of man's can be taken for complete obedience. But it was that which God approved and rewarded with a perpetual priesthood to him and his descendants (
Num 25:13;
1Chr 6:4, &c.).
32 (Compare
Num 20:3-
Num 20:12;
Deut 1:37;
Deut 3:26).
went ill with--literally, "was bad for"
Moses--His conduct, though under great provocation, was punished by exclusion from Canaan.
34 They not only failed to expel the heathen, as God
commanded-- (
Exod 23:32-
Exod 23:33), literally, "said (they should)," but conformed to their idolatries [
Ps 106:36], and thus became spiritual adulterers (
Ps 73:27).
37 unto devils--Septuagint, "demons" (compare
1Cor 10:20), or "evil spirits."
38 polluted with blood--literally, "blood," or "murder" (
Ps 5:6;
Ps 26:9).
40 Those nations first seduced and then oppressed them (compare
Judg 1:34;
Judg 2:14;
Judg 3:30). Their apostasies ungratefully repaid God's many mercies till He finally abandoned them to punishment (
Lev 26:39).
44 If, as is probable, this Psalm was written at the time of the captivity, the writer now intimates the tokens of God's returning favor.
45 repented--(compare
Ps 90:13).
46 made . . . pitied-- (
1Kgs 8:50;
Dan 1:9). These tokens encourage the prayer and the promise of praise (
Ps 30:4), which is well closed by a doxology.
