Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryPsalms 106

Praise for Divine GoodnessThis psalm begins by teaching us to praise God for his goodness and mercy. We are reminded that God’s kindness lasts forever, and that his wonderful acts are beyond counting. The psalm encourages God’s people to be thankful, to do what is right, and to seek happiness in God’s favor and salvation.v. 1: We are told to Praise the Lord

v. 2: The psalmist asks, Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord

v. 3: Those who do what is right and keep justice are blessed . God’s people are known by their good actions and steady faithfulness. They do what is right in every situation and at all times.

v. 4: The psalmist prays, Remember me, O Lord

v. 5: He also prays, that I may see the good of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance . God’s people are called his chosen, his nation, and his inheritance. Their joy and glory come from belonging to God, and this is better than anything the world offers. Everyone who trusts in God’s salvation can share in this happiness and praise.

The Sins of IsraelitesThis part of the psalm is a confession of sin. The people admit their faults and the wrongdoings of their ancestors. They recognize that God is right to punish them, but they also remember that God never completely abandoned his people, even when they sinned. This gives them hope that God’s correction is not the end, but a call to return to him.v. 6: The people confess, We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly . They admit that, just like their ancestors, they have done wrong and added to the nation’s guilt (Numbers 32:14; Matthew 23:32 ). They carry the burden of both their own sins and those of their fathers (Lamentations 5:7 ).

v. 7: They remember how their ancestors were stubborn even while God was showing them great kindness in Egypt . The people did not understand or remember God’s miracles. Because they forgot God’s mercies, they doubted him and provoked him, even at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:11–12 ).

v. 8: But God saved them for his own name’s sake, to show his power . Even though they did not deserve it, God wanted the world to see his greatness, both in his miracles and in his forgiveness.

v. 9: God rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up so that the Israelites could pass through as if it were dry land . God led them safely, just as he led them through the wilderness.

v. 10: He saved them from their enemies, especially from Pharaoh who hated them . God stepped in to rescue his people from those who wanted to destroy them.

v. 11: The waters covered the Egyptians, and not one of them was left . God turned the sea into a path for Israel but into a grave for their enemies (Exodus 14:30 ).

v. 12: After this, the people believed God’s words and sang his praise . They trusted God and celebrated with the song of Moses (Exodus 14:31; Exodus 15:1 ). God’s mercy often turns our doubts into faith and our fears into songs of praise (Isaiah 29:24 ).

Israel’s Forgetfulness and Sin after God’s Wonders This section describes how quickly the people of Israel forgot what God had done for them after He rescued them from Egypt. Even after experiencing great miracles and kindness from God, they failed to remember His works and turned away from His commands. The passage is a warning about the dangers of ingratitude and disobedience, and it shows how forgetting God’s blessings can lead to foolish choices and sin.v. 13: They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel . The Israelites quickly forgot all the miracles God had done for them, like rescuing them from Egypt and providing for their needs in the wilderness. They did not trust God enough to wait for His guidance. Instead of relying on His wisdom, they made their own decisions and acted impatiently. When people forget God’s help and do not seek His direction, they are likely to make poor choices.

v. 14: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert . Instead of being satisfied with what God provided, the people craved more and more, wanting things their own way. They tested God by demanding food and comforts, showing they did not trust Him to provide what was best. Their selfish desires led them to challenge God, which was a serious sin.

v. 15: And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul (Psalm 106:15 ). God gave the Israelites what they asked for, like meat in the wilderness, but it was not a real blessing. Instead, He sent “leanness” into their souls—meaning they did not find true satisfaction. Sometimes God lets people have what they demand, but it leads to emptiness or trouble, not happiness. This shows that trusting God’s wisdom is always better than selfishly insisting on our own way.

Provocation of Israel in the Wilderness; The Divine CompassionThis section explains how the people of Israel continued to disobey God, even after entering the promised land. Their sins brought God’s judgment, but God’s mercy still reached them. It teaches us that turning away from God leads to trouble, but his compassion can bring restoration when we cry out to him.v. 34: The Israelites did not destroy the nations as God had commanded . They showed false pity and failed to obey God’s instructions to remove wicked influences from the land.

v. 35: Instead, they mixed with the people of those nations and learned their evil ways . By becoming friends with them, they copied their sinful customs and lost their uniqueness as God’s people.

v. 36: The Israelites began to serve the idols of these other nations . This idolatry became a trap for them and led them deeper into sin.

v. 37–38: They even went so far as to sacrifice their sons and daughters to false gods (Psalm 106:37–38 ). They killed innocent children, shedding their blood in terrible acts of idolatry. This showed how far they had fallen, and it made the land unclean.

v. 39: By following their own sinful ideas, they ruined their own hearts and became impure in God’s sight . Their actions made them spiritually dirty and brought shame on themselves.

v. 40: God became angry with his people because of their sin . He could no longer look on them with pleasure, and he was deeply offended by their rebellion.

v. 41–42: God allowed their enemies to conquer them and rule over them harshly (Psalm 106:41–42 ). The very nations they had copied became their oppressors, showing that disobedience leads to suffering and loss of freedom (2 Chronicles 12:8 ).

v. 43: Even though God rescued them many times, they kept turning back to sin . Because of their stubbornness, God allowed them to suffer deeply for their disobedience.

v. 44–45: When they finally cried out to God, he heard their prayers and remembered his covenant with them (Psalm 106:44–45 ). Even though he had punished them, he showed mercy, forgave them, and stayed true to his promises (Exodus 3:7 ).

v. 46: God moved the hearts of their captors to have pity on them . God can change even the hardest hearts and make enemies show kindness, proving his power and mercy.

v. 47: The psalmist prays, Save us, O Lord

v. 48: The psalm ends with praise: Blessed be the Lord