The Book of Psalms
Psalm 106
Psalm CVI · Vol. II, pp. 1056–1057
1 The psalmist exhorteth to praise God for his goodness. 4 He prayeth to share in his people's joy: 6 he rehearseth Israel's rebellions and God's mercies: 47 He concludeth with prayer and blessing.
1 Praise ye the LORD.1 O agive thanks unto the LORD; for he is bgood: for his mercy endureth for ever.
B.C. cir. 1044.
1 Heb. Hallelujah, 1 Ch.16.34.
a Ps.107.1; 118.1; 136.1. 1 Th.5.18.
b Ps.119.68. Mat.19.17. Is.63.7,9. Ro.5.20,21. Ep.2.7.
3 Blessed are they that dkeep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.2
d Ps.119.1,2,106; 15.2. Mat.22.37,38. 2 Co.1.12. Ac.24.16. Ga.6.9.
2 He that doeth righteousness at all times. No one can mistake these words for anything short of a description of the holy Son of God. To no other will they, through any tortures of accommodation, be found to apply.—C.
4 Remembere me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
5 That I may see gthe good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
g Ps.105.42,44. Je.3.19. Ep.1.3-9,18; 2.4-10. Is.35.10; 66.10-14; 12.6; xxv.xxvi. Jn.16.22.
6 Weh have sinned with our fathers; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedly.3
h Da.9.5. Ezr.9.7. Ne.9.16-34. Eze.xvi.xx.xxiii.
3 Here commences the confession of national sins in name of the entire Jewish church. The first point of confession seems to be ignorance. They saw the miracles, but they understood not either the nature or objects of Jehovah, by whom they were wrought.—C.
7 Our fathers iunderstood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; jbut provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
i Is.1.3; 5.12. Je.2.32. De.32.15,18.
j Ex.14.11,12.
8 Neverthelessk he saved them for his name's sake, 4that lhe might make his mighty power to be known.
9 Hem rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
10 Andn he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 Ando the waters covered their enemies, there was not one of them left.
o Ex.14.27; 15.5,10,12. Ps.74.13,14; 78.53; 136.15.
14 Butr lusted exceedingly7 in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
r Nu.11.4,33. Ps.78.18. 1 Co.10.6.
7 Heb. lusted a lust.
15 Ands he gave them their request; but sent leanness8 into their soul.
s Nu.11.31-33. Ps.78.29,31. Is.10.16.
8 Leanness. 'Loathing' Lowth).—Note, Dissatisfaction with such food and other mercies as God may please in providence to bestow, is among the heaviest judgments that he inflicts upon ungrateful sinners.—C.
18 Andv a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burnt up the wicked.
v Nu.16.35,46; 26.10; 27.3.
19 Theyx made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.9
x Ex.32.4-6. De.9.12,16. Ne.9.18.
9 1491.
21 Theyz forgat God1 their saviour, which had done agreat things in Egypt;
z De.32.15,18. Je.2.32. ver.13.
1 They forgat God. If the forgetfulness of spirit here charged upon Israel appear strange or incredible to any one, let him only look at the world around him, and in all ranks and conditions of men he will discover examples of a forgetfulness of baptism and the Lord's Supper, with all their holy obligations and privileges, not only as glaring as those of Israel in the desert, but many times more strange and criminal, because of the greater light of the knowledge of God which now shines in the face of Jesus Christ—of Christ, not in types and shadows, but visibly set forth as crucified amongst us.—C.
a Ex.vii.xii.xiv. De.4.34; 7.18,19. Jos.24.5-7. Ne.9.10,11. Ps.74.12-15; 78.42-51; 105.27-39.
22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
23 Thereforeb 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.
28 Theyi joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.4
i Nu.25.2,&c.; 31.16. Ho.9.10. Jos.22.17. 1 Co.10.20, with Ps.115.4-7.
4 Of dead idols, in opposition to the living God.—C.
30 Thenn stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment; and so othe plague was stayed.
n Nu.25.7-15. Da.9.24. 2 Co.5.21.
o Nu.25.9. Jonah 1.15.
32 Theyq angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
q Nu.20.3,13. De.3.26. Ps.81.7.
33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he rspake unadvisedly with his lips.5
5 The Israelites sinned grievously in thus provoking Moses; but Moses himself was not, therefore, excused. This teaches an important lesson. Moses 'spake unadvisedly,' i.e. rashly and therefore sinfully. Moses ought to have borne patiently with his people. Instead of doing so he exclaimed passionately:—'Hear now, ye rebels, must we fetch you waters out of the rock?'—P.
38 And 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 ypolluted with blood.
40 Therefore bwas the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
43 Manyd times did he deliver them: but they provoked him with their counsel, and were 7brought low for their iniquity.8
d Ju.2.16-19; iii.iv.vi.x.xiii. Ne.9.28,30.
7 Or, impoverished or weakened.
8 The book of Judges is replete with oppressions and deliverances; and may, on that account, be studied, not merely as the most suitable commentary upon this part of the psalm, but as one of the clearest discoveries of the moral government of God over churches and nations.—C.
44 Neverthelesse he regarded their affliction, gwhen he heard their cry:
e Le.26.40-42.
g Ju.3.9; 4.3; 6.7; 10.10. 2 Ki.14.26,27.
45 Andh he remembered for them his covenant, and irepented according to the multitude of his mercies.9
46 Hej made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.1
j 1 Ki.8.50. Je.15.11; 50.12. Ezr.9.9.
1 Within a few past years, the Lord seems in mercy again to have turned the hearts of Christians toward the Jews, in pity for their sufferings, and efforts for their conversion. It is one of the signs of the times, both in and to the church. The Lord turn the hearts of men into this channel of mercy, till Jacob be delivered, and Israel again dwell safely!—C.
Notes
Reflections.—Wonderful and thank-worthy are all the deeds, the gracious deeds, of our God. Blessed are they who make his word their rule, and his compassion the ground of their acceptance, and the example of their holy practice! Happy are they who enjoy intimate fellowship with him in his saving works and benefits. But how horrid is sin, which seeks to trample him, and all his kindness, under foot! And awful is the reflection, that one generation should follow another in adding sin to sin. We need not upbraid the sinners who went before us, as we are involved in the same fearful crimes. Notwithstanding both mercies and judgments, how stupidly insensible, how strangely forgetful, how discontented with God's marvellous provision, how rebellious against his deputies and government—what distinguished idolaters, murmurers, infidels, adulterers, and how perversely disobedient—does sin make God's professed people! Often they proceed from evil to worse, till his indignation break forth against them without remedy. But great is the mercy, when sinful nations and churches have any among them who, by their prayers and their zeal, stand in the gap, and avert the Lord's indignation. With pleasure he looks upon such, and highly honours them on that account. But infinite is the goodness of our God, who, when provoked to add one stroke to another, and to make wicked tempters to sin cruel tormentors for it, is so ready to step in for our relief, and to rebuke, or even turn the hearts of them that destroyed us. Never is a penitent prayer poured out into his bosom but it returns in gracious preservation and deliverance. Let then all our troubles drive us to the throne of grace; and all our mercies, bestowed or promised, encourage our prayers, and animate our praise.