Psalms 106:5-15

5 So that I may see the well-being of the people of your selection, and have a part in the joy of your nation, and take pride in your heritage.

6 We are sinners like our fathers, we have done wrong, our acts are evil.

7 Our fathers did not give thought to your wonders in Egypt; they did not keep in memory the great number of your mercies, but gave you cause for wrath at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

8 But he was their saviour because of his name, so that men might see his great power.

9 By his word the Red Sea was made dry: and he took them through the deep waters as through the waste land.

10 And he took them safely out of the hands of their haters, and kept them from the attacks of those who were against them.

11 And the waters went over their haters; all of them came to an end.

12 Then they had faith in his words; they gave him songs of praise.

13 But their memory of his works was short; not waiting to be guided by him,

14 They gave way to their evil desires in the waste land, and put God to the test in the dry places.

15 And he gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease into their souls.

Psalms 106:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 106

This psalm is without the name of its author, as the Syriac interpreter observes. Aben Ezra, on Ps 106:47, says, that one of the wise men of Egypt (perhaps Maimonides) was of opinion that it was written in the time of the judges, when there was no king in Israel; and another, he says, thought it was written in Babylon: but he was of opinion it was wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, or by a prophetic spirit, concerning their present captivity; and so Kimchi. The petition in Ps 106:47, "gather us from among the Heathen", has led most interpreters to conclude that it was written either in the Babylonish captivity, or, as some, in the times of Antiochus: but by comparing it with 1Ch 16:7, it appears that it was written by David, at the time of the bringing up of the ark to Zion; since the first and two last verses of it are there expressly mentioned, in the psalm he gave Asaph to sing on that occasion, Ps 106:34-36, who therein might have respect to the Israelites that had been taken captive by some of their neighbours, as the Philistines, and still retained; though there is no difficulty in supposing that David, under a prophetic spirit, foresaw future captivities, and represents those that were in them. As the preceding psalm treats of the mercies and favours God bestowed upon Israel, this of their sins and provocations amidst those blessings, and of the goodness of God unto them; that notwithstanding he did not destroy them from being a people; for which they had reason to be thankful.