Rebellion and Deliverance 

Psalms 106

They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wonders in the land of Ham and awesome things by the Red Sea. Therefore, He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them. 

Many times, He would deliver them; they, however, were rebellious in their counsel, and so sank down in their iniquity. Nevertheless, He looked upon their destress when he heard their cry; and He remembered His covenant for their sake, and relented according the greatness of His lovingkindess. He also made them objects of compassion in the presence of their captors. 

This is an amazing Psalm of repentance that exalts the lovingkindness of God to forgive and save. I tend to live in a state of grace. It’s a good place to be. I didn’t grow up in a religion of guilt and legalism requiring penance (voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong). So, I always lean toward grace and enjoy the comfort that I’m always forgiven. Perhaps even taking it for granted. 

But this psalm reminds me that my Christian life has been a life of ups and downs. Seasons of closeness to God interrupted with periods of arrogance, self-reliance, lust and rebellion. This psalm recounts with detail the history of Israel and their recurring rebellion leading to God’s anger and then followed with forgiveness and love. What a pattern!  

From the time of Moses to Jeremiah, the psalmist recounts the stories of Israel’s arrogance, lust and rebellion:  

• our fathers in Egypt did not understand your wonders 
• they rebelled by the sea 
• they quickly forgot His works 
• they provoked Him to anger 
• they mingled with the nations and learned their practices and served their idols 
• they shed innocent blood 
• they played the harlot in their deeds 

This was their pattern. But this is my life as well. Just as the psalmist said, “we have sinned just like our fathers,” verse 6. But every time, although God burned in His anger toward them, in His lovingkindness toward them, HE FORGAVE.  

“He looked upon their distress and HE REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT FOR THEIR SAKE, and He relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness. He made them objects of compassions,” verses 44-46. 

I live continuously under the covenant of grace despite my life of sin.  Most people that know me would not describe my life as a ‘life of sin’. They tend to think of me as a good and moral person. But any action, thought or intent that falls short of the glory of God, is sin. I fall short a lot, and so do you. To realize and acknowledge this, as here in Psalms 106, is to realize with greater intensity the amazing grace of God toward me. Grace that I no longer want to take for granted. 

Verse 48 closes the Psalm with “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And let all the people say ‘Amen’. Praise the Lord!”  

How am I to live this scripture today? Do not allow me, Lord, to foolishly consider myself “relatively” better than most people. How silly. How does considering myself as better than others, benefit me? The Pharisee said, “I’m glad I’m better than the tax collector.” Big deal. It meant nothing. The tax collector said, “forgive me, I’m a sinner.” That meant something. The tax collector’s words, from a heart of faith, triggered the unfathomable grace and kindness of God to cover that tax collector from head to toe, heart, soul and spirit.  

Lord, let me rejoice that I was filled forever and securely with your forgiveness of ALL my sin when I received you by faith. I’m not re-saved every time I say forgive me, but I am renewed and reminded of Your abundant grace and lovingkindness toward me! Amen!