Psalm 106:34-48

Today we see one of the most consequential mistakes of ancient Israel: their disobedience in not completely driving out the Canaanites from the Promised Land. As with the incident at Peor, which we saw yesterday, the result was cultic syncretism with its attendant idolatry and abhorrent practices. I won’t bother giving specific references here, because the problem runs throughout the Old Testament. Time and again the people stray from the LORD, and time and again He both warns them and rescues them, but their continued disobedience leads to exile — the Northern Kingdom to Assyria (never to return), and the Southern Kingdom to Babylon.

As we have seen, we tend to be very much like ancient Israel in our own faithlessness, and we, too, may struggle to stand against the ways of the world. But unlike ancient Israel, we are here now, and in the power of the Holy Spirit we can choose to repent and follow the Lord today.

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One more thing…

They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.

Psalm 106:37-39

Tell me, what significant difference is there between the child sacrifice described here and modern-day abortion?

With the recent “Dobbs” Supreme Court decision and with the upcoming midterm elections, we stand at an extremely important cusp of our nation’s history. We can join with the world around us, or we can stand up for righteousness. We can vote for life, or — like ancient Israel — we can vote for death. Which will it be for you?

Save us, O LORD our God! (v. 47)

Psalm 106:24-33

Today we have three more instances of Israel’s failure to follow the LORD, three different scenarios representing three different temptations or challenges:

• Ps. 106:24-27: The refusal to enter the Promised Land (See Num. 13-14.)
  • The people choose fear over faith, seeing “giants in the land” rather than the Lord of Hosts, and not believing that God could or would deliver on His promise
• Ps. 106:28-31: Baal worship at Peor (See Num. 25.)
  • The people choose compromise with the world, mingling with and mimicking the people around them, tying themselves to false gods rather than walking in obedience
• Ps. 106:32-33: The waters of Meribah (See Ex. 17:1-7; Num. 20:2-13.)
  • The people quarrel and complain, not trusting God for the provision of water, and Moses is so provoked that he ends up drawing more attention to himself than to God

Which of these three scenarios strikes closest to home for you? Are you prone to fear and anxiety and therefore reluctant to do what the Lord asks of you, thinking that maybe He’ll let you down? Or are you swayed by whatever the world seems to be offering, compromising your relationship with God for the sake of “getting along” with the world? Or are you prone to provocation and self-assertion?

Psalm 106:13-23

The psalmist cites a few instances of Israel’s faithlessness and rebellion. For details on these incidents see Exodus 16:2,3,9-13; Numbers 11:1-4,18-23,31-35; 16:1-35; Exodus 32; and Deuteronomy 9:16-21.

So how about us? How have we forgotten God’s works? How have we failed to wait for His counsel? How have we indulged our cravings rather than trusting the Lord’s provision? How, in particular, have we engaged in any kind of idolatry? (And bear in mind that one need not actually forge a golden calf to engage in idolatry. For example, do you covet? According to Col. 3:5, that’s idolatry…)

I do not know your particular weaknesses, but I think I’m reasonably familiar with the general condition of humankind, so I think it is safe to say that we can all relate, at some level, to Israel’s failings, and it is good to acknowledge that — and then, with a grateful heart, give glory and praise to God for showing us mercy and loving us anyway.

Psalm 106:1-12

Whereas Psalm 105 celebrates the LORD’s faithfulness in dealing with Israel, Psalm 106 confesses Israel’s faithlessness in dealing with the LORD. Yet despite that faithlessness, the LORD remains faithful and delivers Israel time and again.

Whenever I review the history of Israel, I am appalled at their faithlessness. The people see the great works of God — the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea — and yet very quickly turn aside. And we are right to be appalled, as God’s actions on their behalf deserve a better response. But then I go further and think that if I were in their shoes, I would do better. I would give God the praise He is due, and I would trust and obey.

Uh-huh. Right.

The truth is that I have seen even greater works of God — I know of the Resurrection — and yet I whine and complain and prove myself just as faithless as Israel on a daily basis. As we walk through Psalm 106, let’s join in the confession, recognizing that we, too, have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. (Ps. 106:6) And let’s recognize the LORD’s ongoing steadfast love and faithfulness, despite our failings.

Psalm 105:37-45

Today’s reading completes the psalmist’s overview of the Exodus. We see how the Egyptians sent the Israelites away, even giving them silver and gold. (Ps. 105:37,38; Ex. 12:33-36) We see God’s faithfulness in guiding them and in providing them with food and water all through the wilderness. (Ps. 105:39-41; Ex. 13-17, plus the rest of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) Finally, we see that He gave Israel possession of the land that He had promised to Abraham. (Ps. 105:42-45; Joshua 1-24.)

The LORD is indeed a good and faithful God, Who does what He says. God always does what is good and right, and He always does it the best way. He never fails to accomplish His plans and purposes. This psalm celebrates God’s faithfulness. Let’s do the same.

Psalm 105:16-36

The psalmist continues recounting highlights of Israel’s early history. We see Joseph, having been sold into slavery by his brothers, rising to power as Pharaoh’s right-hand man (Ps. 105:16-22). We also see that it is God Who summons a famine on the land, and it is God Who sent Joseph to Egypt as the way to rescue Jacob (Israel) and his family, to preserve them through the famine (Ps. 105:16,17,23). For details on that history, see Genesis 37-50.

So Israel sojourns in Egypt, and God blesses them, causing them to multiply and to become strong. But God also turns the hearts of the Egyptians against them (Ps. 105:23-25). See Exodus 1.

Then we see that God chooses Moses and Aaron to deliver the people of Israel, working signs and wonders and bringing severe plagues upon Egypt (Ps. 105:26-36). See Exodus 2-12:32.

It’s easy to look at all of these works of God from our (or even the psalmist’s) perspective, hundreds of years after the fact, with all our hindsight, and with the knowledge of how the story works out. We can see God’s faithfulness. We can see His power. And we can sing praises accordingly. But put yourself into the story, as all these events were unfolding. How did it look for Joseph when his brothers were selling him into slavery, or when he was languishing in prison? How did it look for everybody in the area during the famine that God sent to drive Jacob and his family to Egypt? How did it look for the Israelites during the four centuries between Joseph and Moses? How did it look for the Israelites as the hearts of the Egyptians were turned against them by the LORD? Or how did it look for the average Egyptian as the plagues were poured out?

Clearly, things did not always look so rosy as God worked out His purposes. Yet all the “bad” stuff — all the waiting, all the pain, all the silence, all the suffering — was just as much part of the story, just as much part of the plan as the “good” stuff, perhaps even more so. So the next time you are contemplating “glory sightings,” don’t just look for the things that make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Look for all those hard things, those trials that God is using to conform you to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29), because that’s the real deal: Christ in you, the hope of glory! (Col. 1:28)

Psalm 105:1-15

Psalm 105 is a testament to the LORD’s faithfulness to the people of Israel. It highlights several “glory sightings” extending from Abraham to the Exodus.

Today’s reading reminds us of God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (aka Israel), how He promised to give the land of Canaan to their descendants (Ps. 105:8-11) and how He protected them as they sojourned in various places (Ps. 105:12-15). If you want to refresh your memory on that period of history — with a good deal more detail! — see Genesis 12-36.

As the psalmist recalls Israel’s history, we likewise should recall our own history. Remember how God has touched your life. Call to mind how He has been faithful to you. And share your (that is, His) story with someone. Make known his deeds among the peoples! (v. 1)

Psalm 104:24-35

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

Psalm 104:24

Our reading today continues to give glory to the LORD as the Creator. He is the One Who made it all, and He is the One Who rules over all. He is the One Who gives and sustains all life. And He is the One Who deserves all the glory and praise.

Yesterday, I suggested going outside to take a good look at nature and to let that look lead you to worship our Creator. Do it again today. And tomorrow. In fact, make a habit of it.

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

Psalm 104:33

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Psalm 104:1-23

We are back to the Psalms today, but Fred wants to extend his “vacation”, so it looks like you are still stuck with me. Sorry about that.

Psalm 104 begins with the same refrain we heard in Psalm 103: Bless the LORD, O my soul! It goes on to extol the LORD as the Creator, as the One Who set the earth on its foundations (Ps 104:5), the One Who formed the seas, the mountains, the valleys (Ps 104:6-9). He is the One Who waters the earth, Who gives life to all the plants and animals and mankind (Ps 104:10-18). He is the One Who orders day and night and seasons by the sun and the moon (Ps 104:19-23). He is the One responsible for all we see.

I grew up in Iowa. It’s one of those places with “big sky” because there isn’t much blocking the view from horizon to horizon — unless you happen to be standing in a cornfield with the corn at full height, in which case you can’t see anything! The night sky there is tremendous, with views of stars, planets, the Milky Way, and even the northern lights on occasion. But I spent most of my adult life in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., a place that is most definitely not “big sky,” and the light pollution from the city blots out all but the brightest stars. There it is easy to neglect to look up, because it seems like there isn’t much to see. And the culture of the nation’s capital reinforces that notion with its focus on earthly things, particularly power and wealth.

It is easy to get so focused on the man-made, on modern technology, or human achievements, or entertainment, or whatever, that we forget about the wonders of creation. On the other hand, there are those who do indeed see the natural world, but — unwilling to acknowledge God — become enthralled with nature itself. (See Rom. 1:25.) Let’s not make either mistake. Open your eyes. Go outside. Look around. Marvel at the structure, the order, the beauty, the grandeur of nature. Then worship its — and your — Creator!