Psalms 106:7

7 After our parents left Egypt, they took your wonders for granted, forgot your great and wonderful love. They were barely beyond the Red Sea when they defied the High God

Psalms 106:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 106:7

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt
Or, "our fathers in Egypt" F12; while they were there, they did not understand, or wisely consider and attend unto, the miracles there wrought, the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians. These were done in their sight, they saw them with their eyes; yet had not hearts to perceive them, and understand the true use and design of them: not only that these were for the destruction of their enemies, and for their deliverance from them; but that they were proofs of the power of God, and of his being the one only and true God, in opposition to the idols of the Egyptians; and that he only ought to be adhered unto, worshipped, and trusted in. Had they adverted to these things, they would not so easily have given in to a murmuring and repining spirit, to a distrust of the power and providence of God, and to idolatry, as they did; see ( Deuteronomy 29:2-4 ) , something of this kind may be observed in the disciples of Christ, ( Mark 6:52 ) .

They remembered not the multitude of thy mercies;
the mercies of God bestowed on his people are many, both temporal and spiritual; there is a multitude of them; the sum of them is great, it cannot well be said how great it is: but though they are so many as not to be reckoned up in order, yet a grateful remembrance of them should be kept up; it is sinful to forget them, and argues great ingratitude. Past mercies should be remembered, both for the glory of God, and to encourage faith and hope in him, with respect to future ones, as well as to preserve from sinning against him. The stupidity and ingratitude of this people, here confessed, were the source of their rebellion against God, as follows:

but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea;
or, "sea of Suph" {m}; so called, either from a city of this name, which it washed, as Hillerus F14 thinks; see ( Numbers 21:14 ) ( Deuteronomy 1:1 ) or from the sedge and weeds in it, or reeds and rushes that grew upon the banks of it. When they were come hither, though just brought out of Egyptian bondage, and had seen the wonders the Lord had done; and though now in the utmost distress, the Egyptian army behind them, and the sea before them; yet neither past mercies nor present danger could keep them from rebelling against the Lord. They provoked him by their language to Moses;

because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die
in the wilderness?
( Exodus 14:11 Exodus 14:12 ) . The Targum is,

``but they rebelled against thy word.''


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (Myrumb wnytwba) "patres nostri in Aegypto", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus
F13 (Pwo Myb) "in mari Suph", Pagninus, Vatablus, Schmidt; "in mare carecti", Montanus; "mare algosum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius.
F14 Onomastic. Sacr. p. 128, 940.

Psalms 106:7 In-Context

5 I want to see your chosen succeed, celebrate with your celebrating nation, join the Hallelujahs of your pride and joy!
6 We've sinned a lot, both we and our parents; We've fallen short, hurt a lot of people.
7 After our parents left Egypt, they took your wonders for granted, forgot your great and wonderful love. They were barely beyond the Red Sea when they defied the High God
8 - the very place he saved them! - the place he revealed his amazing power!
9 He rebuked the Red Sea so that it dried up on the spot - he paraded them right through! - no one so much as got wet feet!
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.