Psalms 106:1

PSALM 106

THE REBELLIOUSNESS OF ISRAEL AND GOD'S MERCIES

This, the last psalm of Book IV, is the third of the psalms which McCaw classified as "historical."[1] It is also the first of the ten psalms which Rawlinson classified as, "The Hallelujah Psalms."[2] The others are: Psalms 111; Psalms 112; Psalms 113; Psalms 115; Psalms 116; Psalms 117; Psalms 118; Psalms 119; and Psalms 150, making ten in all. All of these, except Psalms 111 and Psalms 112, both begin and end with "Hallelujah," or "Praise the Lord," as it is rendered in our version. Psalms 111 and Psalms 112 begin with "Hallelujah," but do not end with it. This information is received from Rawlinson,[3] but the American Standard Version (which we are following) differs somewhat from it. As we have mentioned earlier, such classifications are of limited value.

Psalms 106 begins with an introduction (Psalms 106:1-5), and follows with a recital of Israel's long history of sin and rebellion against God, stressing God's constant mercies and deliverances (Psalms 106:6-46) and concluding with an expression of prayer and praise similar to the introduction.

Regarding the date and the occasion, there is no dependable information whatever. Even the opinion of several scholars that the time of the exile in Babylon was the occasion is uncertain; because, as McCaw noted, "Psalms 106:47 does not require the Babylonian captivity as its setting. There could have been no occasion from Israel's entering Canaan onward when some Israelites were not held in alien slavery and when the nation as a whole was not acutely conscious of surrounding paganism."[4]

In this connection, Rhodes reminds us that, "There was a dispersion of Israel as early as the eighth century, following the fall of the Northern Israel."[5]

There is also the question of which is earlier, 1Chronicles, which has some of these same lines, or this psalm. We do not believe that this question has been satisfactorily resolved.

This psalm resembles Psalms 105 in that both cover an extensive period of Israel's history; but there is a totally different emphasis. In Psalms 105, Israel's victories are in focus; but in this psalm, it is their sins and the constant mercies and deliverance of the Lord that are stressed.

Before viewing the text itself, there are the following lines from Maclaren which extol the unique marvel of the psalm.

"The history of God's past is a record of continuous mercies; and mankind's record is one of continuous sin ... Surely never but in Israel has patriotism chosen a nation's sins for the theme of song, or in celebrating its victories has written but one name on all of its trophies, the name of Jehovah."[6]

Miller also observed that, "It is of singular interest that Israel's sins are enumerated in a praise hymn."[7] God's repeated "passing over" of the sins of Israel (Romans 3:25) appears to have left an impression upon racial Israel that "no matter what they did," they would forever enjoy their status as God's chosen people.

It is also somewhat distressing to read the comments of a number of writers who seem to believe that despite the consummate wickedness of Israel leading eventually to their rejecting God Himself in the person of His Only Begotten Son, and their official renunciation of God Himself as their king, in the official cry of the nation's leaders that, "We have no king but Caesar" - that in spite of all this, racial Israel is still "the People of God." Have such writers never heard of the "Israel of God," which is now the fellowship "in Christ?" See Galatians 6:16.

Psalms 106:1-5

INTRODUCTION

"Praise ye Jehovah.

Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good;

For his lovingkindness endureth forever.

Who can utter the mighty acts of Jehovah,

Or show forth all his praise?

Blessed are they that keep justice,

And he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Remember me, O Jehovah, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people;

O visit me with thy salvation,

That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen,

That I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation,

That I may glory with thine inheritance."

"Praise ye Jehovah" (Psalms 106:1). For these words, the Hebrew text (the Masoretic) has "Hallelujah," according to the marginal reading; and from this it takes its place in the classification of "Hallelujah Psalms."

"Who can utter all the mighty acts of Jehovah ... or all his praise" (Psalms 106:2)? The infinity of God's mighty deeds and also that of the praises due to God are beyond all the abilities of men, either to declare them or to voice sufficient praises of them.

"Blessed are they that keep justice ... and do righteousness at all times" (Psalms 106:3). These words would appear to identify the psalmist as one of the "true sons of Abraham," an Israelite indeed, as distinguished from the majority of the wicked nation (Luke 19:9; John 1:47). See also John 8:39-44.

"Remember me with thy favor ... with thy salvation" (Psalms 106:4). The psalmist here injects his own prayer for God's favor and salvation, when is accomplished the deliverance which he envisions as coming to the people as a whole (Psalms 106:5).

CONFESSION OF ISRAEL'S SINS

Israel, at this time was suffering the penalty of God's anger for their wickedness, whether in the distress following the fall of Samaria (722 B.C.), or that of the Babylonian captivity centuries later, or whether from some other disaster cannot now be certainly determined. However, the psalmist here undertakes a confession of the sins of the whole nation. In this, the psalm is one of the Penitentials.