(Psalm 105 -106)

The perennial problem of the Israelites was that they quickly forgot what the Lord had done for them :
“Remember the wonders He has done,.. ” (105:5)
” But they soon forgot what he had done.. ” (106:13)
” They forgot the God who saved them.. ” (106:21)
📌 Forgetting God’s blessings and provision is often the first step toward ingratitude and a hard heart.

📝 Today’s reading passages covers many incidents of Israelites’ forgetful natures. They should not remember only the wonders and miracles of God but they should also remember the judgements He pronounced (105:5, 7)

📌 We can summarize the Israelites’ forgetfulness in three categories :
1️⃣ DELIVERANCE : They forgot their enslavement in Egypt and God’s miraculous deliverance (105: 23-37 ; 106:7-13)
📌 Let us REMEMBER : “In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins ” Eph 1:7

” If the Son has sets you free, you will be free indeed” Jn 8:36

2️⃣ PROVISION : They forgot the manna, quail, water, the pillars of cloud and fire (105:39-41; 106: 14-15)
📌 Let us REMEMBER :
“He is Jehovah Jireh – the Lord who provides” (Gen 22:14)

“My God will meet all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus ” Philp 4:19

3️⃣ PROMISES : God had always come through on his promises, despite their unfaithfulness, yet they still doubted his goodness (106: 24-27)
📌 REMEMBER : “… how many promises God has made, they are ” YES” in Christ.. ” 2Cor 1:20

Jesus said, ” In my Father’s house are many rooms ; .. I will come back and take you to be with me.. ” Jn 14:2-3

💞 Beloved Church, before we judge the Israelites for their forgetfulness, we need to realize that it’s easy to forget the goodness of God as we get caught up in everyday living.
🔖 We too tend to forget what the Lord has done for us.
🔖 We too can become so preoccupied with grumbling about our circumstances that we ignore what God has done for us in the past or will do for us in the future.
🔖 We too may turn to astrologers and fortune-tellers in an attempt to gain success in business or in life.

🔖 All such behaviour leads us away from God and draws his wrath.
🔖 How grateful we should be for His forgiveness when we repent of such actions 🙌

📌 God knows our tendency to forget things.
In OT the Lord often reminds the Israelites, “Remember the Sabbath Day ; keep it holy ” (Exo 20:8;
In NT Jesus said, ” Remember the height from which you have fallen ! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Rev 2:5)

🙏 Let us give thanks to the Lord and make known among the nations what He has done (105:1-2; 106:1)

Glory to God 🙌
✍🏻 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳

📓 The Book of Psalms: 105-106 📓

Psalm 105 – An exhortation to Israel to worship and trust in the Lord for all His saving acts in fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham to give his descendants the land of Canaan. PRAISE and PRAYER are expressions of devotion to the Lord. By praising we celebrate His past saving acts. By prayer we trust Him for future deliverance and blessing. The children of Israel were exhorted to REMEMBER the saving acts of God.

The Lord’s Saving Acts

Israel in Egypt – Though Joseph entered Egypt as a slave God used him wonderfully in the terrible famine that struck Egypt. The king raised him as ruler of all he possessed and master of his household. The children of Israel came into Egypt as a small group of 70 members. But God blessed them and they became very fruitful and multiplied greatly. So the king and his people treated them very harshly.

Israel Saved – God sent Moses and Aaron to Egypt. The king refused to send the Israelites to go and worship the Lord. Ten plagues struck Egypt. The Israelites were allowed to leave Egypt when all the first born in Egypt were slain. They left laden with gold and silver.The Lord wonderfully provided and protected His people in the desert. God remembered His promise to Abraham and gave them the Promised Land. God wanted His people to conform their lives to His will and observe His laws.

Psalm 106 – God’s Mercy and Israel’s Rebellion: God was full of mercy and always wanted His people to enjoy prosperity and rejoice and praise Him always.

1) They rebelled by the Red Sea but God miraculously saved them and drowned their enemies.
2). They rebelled and gave into craving. God sent a wasting disease on them.
3) They grew envious over Moses and Aaron. The earth opened it mouth and swallowed the people concerned.
4) At Horeb a calf out of gold was made and they all worshipped it and forgot the Lord who had saved them. God would have destroyed them had not Moses stood in the breach.
5) They despised the Promised Land and did not believe in His promise.They grumbled and were disobedient. So the Exodus generation perished in the desert.
6) They provoked the Lord by worshipping Baal. A plague broke among them.
7) They angered the Lord at the waters of Meribah.
8) They mingled with the nations and defiled themselves by worshipping idols and following their customs.

Their Cry to God – When the people cried unto Him for mercy. God remembered His covenant and out of His great love saved them. Save us O LORD so that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

Mrs Caroline Chellappa 📝
Chennai