Mercy in spite of the Israel's sad history
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| This psalm is considered to be a sequel to 105. Both are "national hymns" and trace the history of Israel. This one, however is strikingly different in that it shows the weaknesses and sins of the people. It is a challenge to live righteously. The other could be used for public relations. | |
| 1 ¶ Praise ye the LORD. O give
thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise? 3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. |
Mercy Or "divine love." The words of this verse appear in David's psalm when locating the ark in Jerusalem 1ch1634. |
| 4 Remember me, O LORD,
with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy
salvation;
5 That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. |
5 - Nation Is equivalent to "chosen." |
| 6 ¶ We have sinned with
our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. |
6 -
We
have sinned Continuing through verse 39 is a summary of the
sinful history. The psalmist includes himself and those who would recite
this psalm along with the "fathers" who sinned. And we may search our own
hearts in this respect.
7 - Understood ... remembered not The plagues had fallen and they were saved from them yet, right away at the Red Sea, they denied the Lord as their strength. |
| 8 Nevertheless he saved
them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
.9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. 10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. 12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. |
8 -
His
name's sake See on ps03103.
9 - Rebuked See ex1421, ps10407. 12 - Sang The song of Moses ex15. |
| 13 ¶ They soon forgat
his works; they waited not for his counsel:
.14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. .15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. |
14
- Lusted See nu1404.
14 - Tempted From nasah meaning "tested." 15 - Leanness See on is2416. |
| 16 They envied Moses
also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. 18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked. 19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. .20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. 21 They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; 22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea. .23 Therefore 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. |
16
- Envied Moses This revolt was the second major sin. nu1617.
17 - Dathan ... Abiram The children of the leader, Korah, did not die nu2611. 19 - Calf in Horeb This, the third major sin, is described through verse 23. See ex32, de0908. 20 - Their glory What glory did they lose? The glory of God. je0211, ro0123. 22 - Ham See ps10527. |
| 24 Yea, they despised
the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD. 26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness: 27 To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands. |
24
- Despised ... believed not The fourth great sin. See de0807,
je0319,
ez2006.
26 - Lifted up his hand Symbolic description of the Lord's taking an oath. 27 - Scatter See ez2023. |
| 28 They joined themselves
also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them. 30 Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. 31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore. 32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: 33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips. |
28
- Joined themselves Worship and adulterous connection with
the pagan god. See nu2328,
nu2518,
nu3116;
jos2217.
28 - Sacrifices of the dead Heathen worship included spirit mediums who were thought to be able to communicate with the dead jg0211. |
| .34
¶ They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded
them:
35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. 36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. .37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, 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 polluted with blood. 39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. |
34 - Did not destroy This they only began to do. ex2332f, jg0121ff. Because of this failure, the chosen people were degraded by the heathen practices. This is a lesson particularly for families. City influences destroy children and adults. |
| 40 Therefore was the
wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred
his own inheritance.
41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. .43 Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. |
40 - Wrath ... against Often the case in the book of Judges. "Those nations first seduced and then oppressed them (compare Jg 1:34; 2:14; 3:30). Their apostasies ungratefully repaid God's many mercies till He finally abandoned them to punishment (Le 26:39)." (JFB Commentary) |
| .44
Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. 46 He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives. |
45 - Remembered That is "considered." Also "repented" means changed the planned punishment. |
| 47 Save us, O LORD our
God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy
name, and to triumph in thy praise.
.48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD. |
47 - Gather us The Assyrians sent captives to live in different lands. This call for gathering may not have been during or after the time of Assyrian oppression. Or it may have been during the Babylonian captivity. |
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