Overview: (Kel-Ps)
Here we have the long record of Israel’s sin in spite of God’s marvelous works, and also necessitating further acts of God on their behalf. The main purpose for rehearsing these accounts is theological reflection. At every step of the journey, so to speak, the people forgot God and his wonders; but God had pity on them. In the process they also came to realize that the savior is liable to turn to be their judge.The list of sin and punishment: (modified from a list in Kel-Ps)
1. They craved different food and God struck them with a disease(13–15).
2. Dathan, Abiram and their group rebelled against Moses. Some of them were swallowed by the earth which opened up, and some were burned (16–18).
3. They worshiped their golden calf and God threatened to destroy them. But Moses interceded for them (19–23).
4. They despised the land and God vowed to make them die in the desert (24–27).
5. They worshiped Baal-Peor and made the LORD angry. A plague broke out. Phinehas took a stand and the plague subsided (28–31).
6. They sinned at Meribah and prompted Moses to sin (32–33).
1. They craved different food and God struck them with a disease(13–15).
2. Dathan, Abiram and their group rebelled against Moses. Some of them were swallowed by the earth which opened up, and some were burned (16–18).
3. They worshiped their golden calf and God threatened to destroy them. But Moses interceded for them (19–23).
4. They despised the land and God vowed to make them die in the desert (24–27).
5. They worshiped Baal-Peor and made the LORD angry. A plague broke out. Phinehas took a stand and the plague subsided (28–31).
6. They sinned at Meribah and prompted Moses to sin (32–33).
7. They mingled with the pagans and worshiped their idols with gross practices. The land was polluted by bloodshed (34–39). The LORD despised them many times and dispersed them among the nations (40–42).
Repeated words:
Repeated words:
(1) The list above was not in chronological order, but the common point is the anger of the LORD. Israel would be judged when they sinned.
"his destructive anger v.23, made a solemn vow...make them die v.26, they made the LORD angry v.29, made him angry v.32, they were defiled v.39, the LORD was angry with his people v.40"
(2) When the judgment came God turned away His anger because of the interceders, Moses and Phinehas.
"Moses...interceded with him and turned back his destructive anger v.23, Phinehas took a stand and intervened, and the plague subsided v.31"
(3) However, Moses suffered because of them. He spoke rashly and could not enter the Promise land. Therefore, I think the order was their accumulation of sins and judgments to the point that no one can help them anymore. But, the psalmist continued in v.44-45
106:44 Yet he took notice of their distress,
when he heard their cry for help.
106:45 He remembered his covenant with them,
and relented because of his great loyal love.
Therefore, the psalmist prayed for deliverance to God again v.47-48.
when he heard their cry for help.
106:45 He remembered his covenant with them,
and relented because of his great loyal love.
Therefore, the psalmist prayed for deliverance to God again v.47-48.
Reflection: Who is like our God?? He is patient with Israel and with me. God could have anger on me and destroyed me because of my repeated sin, but He still let me live. He has steadfast or great loyal love to Israel and also with me. He still cared about them and heard their cry after their long history of rebellion beyond measure. I thank God for listening to my prayer after I sinned. He does not need to, but He does (1 John 1:9).
Audrey
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