Psalms 106:39

39 and was defouled in the works of them; and they did fornication in their findings. (and they were defiled by their works; and they wantonly abandoned God with their deeds.)

Psalms 106:39 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 106:39

Thus were they defiled with their own works
Not the land only, but they themselves also; or "with their works" ^F1, with the works of the Heathen they learned, ( Psalms 106:35 ) , or rather with their own works, the works of the flesh, especially their shocking idolatries: sin is of a defiling nature; it has defiled all men, it defiles all of men, all the faculties of their souls, and all the members of their bodies; nor can anything truly and thoroughly cleanse from it but the blood of Christ: even men's works of righteousness are as filthy rags and defiling, and much more their evil works.

And went a whoring with their own inventions;
after other gods; idolatry is often in Scripture signified by whoredom; the idolatry of Israel and Judah is represented by two harlots and their lewd practices, in ( Ezekiel 23:1 ) and hence the apostate church of Rome is compared to a whore, because of her idolatry, ( Revelation 17:1 Revelation 17:2 Revelation 17:5 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (Mhyvemb) "operibus earum", Muis; so Ainsworth.

Psalms 106:39 In-Context

37 And they offered their sons, and their daughters, to fiends. (And they sacrificed their sons and their daughters, to demons and to devils.)

38 And they shedded out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and of their daughters; which they sacrificed to the graven images of Canaan. And the earth was slain in bloods, (And so they shed innocent blood, the blood of their own sons and daughters; whom they sacrificed to the carved idols of Canaan. And the earth was polluted with their children's blood,)

39 and was defouled in the works of them; and they did fornication in their findings. (and they were defiled by their works; and they wantonly abandoned God with their deeds.)

40 And the Lord was wroth by strong vengeance against his people; and he had abomination of his heritage. (And the Lord grew more and more angry in his fury against his people; and he had abomination for his own inheritance.)

41 And he betook them into the hands of heathen men; and they that hated them, were lords of them. (And he delivered them into the hands of the heathen; and so they who hated them, were their lords.)