Psalm 106

< Back to Psalms Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

A Confession of Israel for Her Sins against the Lord

(Transcript not available - coming soon)

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Believers should confess their sins and learn from their mistakes.

  2. Believers should remember God’s compassion and thank Him for His lovingkindness.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let all the people say, Amen!

QUESTIONS

  1. What can we infer about where and when Psalm 106 was written?

  2. Does the psalmist try to shift the blame for the sins of the nation?

  3. Did the Children of Israel praise the Lord for redeeming them when He brought them out of Egypt? (verses 7-12)?

  4. What was the result of Israel’s sin of unbelief and refusal to enter the land when the spies returned (verses 24-27)?

  5. What was the result of Israel’s rebellion and complaining at Meribah (verses 32-33)?

  6. Why did God command His people to kill the Canaanites when they entered the Promised Land (verses 34-39)?

ANSWERS

  1. There is no title to this psalm, but verse 47 may give us some indication. From this verse it seems that Israel has already been scattered and is no longer a united kingdom. It would appear that this psalm as written from the Babylonian captivity as a prayer of confession and fervent request for restoration. This will certainly be the prayer of the godly remnant of restored Israel in the last days.

  2. No. Although he speaks of the sins of the former generation in the third person throughout the psalm, in verse 6 he identifies himself and his people with this former generation.

  3. No, they complained and rebelled when they saw the Red Sea. Only after God’s gracious and awesome parting of the Red Sea and drowning of the Egyptian army did Israel finally believe and praise the Lord.

  4. For this sin of unbelief they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, until that generation died out.

  5. Israel’s sin here caused Moses to speak and act rashly. As a result, Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (see Numbers 32).

  6. God commanded the elimination of these nations so that Israel would not adopt their pagan practices.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Throughout this psalm we see God’s work on behalf of His people followed by a comment that they forgot His works and His salvation. Discuss how we are not unlike the Children of Israel when we forget God’s work on our behalf.

  2. Psalm 106 is a whirlwind history of the Children of Israel and God’s work on their behalf. Were you able to follow this summary of the nation, or do you need to brush up on this section of biblical history?

CHALLENGE

  1. God showed Israel a merciful, steadfast, loyal, and covenantal love throughout their history, in spite of their continued rebellion. This is the kind of love God shows you in spite of your shortcomings and partial obedience. Do you grasp how great our Father loves us?

KEY VERSES

  • “Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 106:1

  • “Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise.” Psalm 106:47

Old Testament, Psalms, TalksDeb HarmsPsalm 106