Psalms 106

A Confession of Israel's Sin

¹Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

²Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD, or fully declare all his praise?

³Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.

⁴Remember me, LORD, with the favor that you show to your people. Visit me with your salvation,

⁵that I may see the prosperity of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.

⁶We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.

⁷Our fathers didn’t understand your wonders in Egypt. They didn’t remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses, 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 known.

⁹He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; so he led them through the depths, as through a desert.

¹⁰He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

¹¹The waters covered their adversaries. There was not one of them left.

¹²Then they believed his words. They sang his praise.

¹³They soon forgot his works. They didn’t wait for his counsel,

¹⁴but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland.

¹⁵He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.

¹⁶They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, the LORD’s saint.

¹⁷The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

¹⁸A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.

¹⁹They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped a molten image.

²⁰Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass.

²¹They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,

²²wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome things by the Red Sea.

²³Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn’t destroy them.

²⁴Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They didn’t believe his word,

²⁵but murmured in their tents, and didn’t listen to the LORD’s voice.

²⁶Therefore he swore to them that he would overthrow them in the wilderness,

²⁷that he would overthrow their offspring among the nations, and scatter them in the lands.

²⁸They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

²⁹Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them.

³⁰Then Phinehas stood up and executed judgment, so the plague was stopped.

³¹That was credited to him for righteousness, for all generations to come.

³²They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes;

³³because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips.

³⁴They didn’t destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them,

³⁵but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works.

³⁶They served their idols, which became a snare to them.

³⁷Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.

³⁸They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood.

³⁹Thus they were defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds.

⁴⁰Therefore the LORD burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance.

⁴¹He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them.

⁴²Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand.

⁴³He rescued them many times, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity.

⁴⁴Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry.

⁴⁵He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

⁴⁶He made them also to be pitied by all those who carried them captive.

⁴⁷Save us, LORD, our God, gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise!

⁴⁸Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise the LORD!

Previous Psalms 105

Next Psalms 107

Psalm 106 presents a comprehensive confession of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness throughout their history, contrasting God's enduring mercy with the nation's repeated rebellion. The psalmist recounts key episodes from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings and conquest period, showing how Israel consistently forgot God's mighty works and turned to idolatry despite His continued deliverance. This historical review serves both as corporate confession and a plea for God's continued mercy, acknowledging that only divine grace has preserved the nation through centuries of disobedience.

Context

This psalm concludes Book IV of the Psalter (Psalms 90-106) with its focus on God's faithfulness despite human failure, complementing Psalm 105's celebration of God's covenant faithfulness.

Key Themes

Outline

1-5
Praise and Personal Plea Opens with praise to God and a personal request to share in His favor toward His people
6-12
Confession and Red Sea Deliverance Acknowledges generational sin while recounting God's salvation at the Red Sea despite Israel's rebellion
13-23
Wilderness Rebellions Details Israel's quick forgetfulness, complaints, jealousy of leaders, and golden calf idolatry in the wilderness
24-33
Refusal to Enter the Land Describes Israel's rejection of the Promised Land, Baal Peor incident, and the waters of Meribah
34-46
Failure in the Land Recounts Israel's incomplete conquest, adoption of pagan practices, and cycles of judgment and deliverance
47-48
Final Plea and Doxology Concludes with a prayer for restoration from exile and praise closing Book IV of Psalms

A Confession of Israel's Sin

106:1–106:48

poetry prayer solemn

A communal confession acknowledging Israel's repeated sins and rebellions throughout history, while also praising God's enduring faithfulness and deliverance despite their disobedience.

person_contrast

Moses appears here uniquely as both intercessor for Israel's rebellion and potential recipient of God's wrath, reversing his typical role as lawgiver and mediator of divine blessing.

Insight Character Study

Moses appears here uniquely as both intercessor for Israel's rebellion and potential recipient of God's wrath, reversing his typical role as lawgiver and mediator of divine blessing.