Psalm 106:43

43 oft he delivered them. But they wrathed him in their counsel; and they were made low in their wickednesses. (and often he rescued them. But then they stirred him to anger again with their deeds/But still they chose to rebel against him; and so they were brought down low for their wickednesses.)

Psalm 106:43 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 106:43

Many times did he deliver them
By means of the judges, Othniel, Ehud, Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, and others.

But they provoked him with their counsel;
in asking a king, whom he gave in his anger, and took away in his wrath, ( Hosea 13:11 ) , and with their idolatries which they devised, setting up the calves at Dan and Bethel; and by taking counsel of others, and not of the Lord; seeking for help from the Assyrians and Egyptians, and trusting in them, ( Isaiah 30:1 Isaiah 30:2 ) , all which was very provoking, and showed great ingratitude, after so many deliverances: or, "though they provoked him with their counsels" ^F2; with their inventions, as in ( Psalms 106:29 ) , yet such were his grace and goodness, that he frequently wrought salvation for them.

And were brought low for their iniquity:
or "when they were weakened", or "impoverished by their iniquity" ^F3 so that they could not help themselves; as they were particularly by the Midianites, ( Judges 6:1-6 ) . Unless this should rather refer to some later times, as the times of Ahaz, when Judah was brought low for their transgressions, ( 2 Chronicles 28:19 ) as also the time of the Babylonish captivity. Sin is of a weakening and impoverishing nature; it has weakened all mankind, and took from them their moral strength to do good; and has brought them to poverty and want; to be beggars an the dunghill; to a pit wherein is no water; and left them in a hopeless and helpless condition: yea, it brings the people of God oftentimes after conversion into a low estate, when God hides his face because of it; temptations are strong, grace is weak, and they become lukewarm and indifferent to spiritual things.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (hmxw) "quamvis ipsi", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F3 (wkmyw) "et attenuati essent", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Cocceius, Michaellis, Gejerus; "et in paupertatem devenerunt per suam iniquitatem", Tigurine version.

Psalm 106:43 In-Context

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.)

42 And their enemies did tribulation to them, and they were meeked under the hands of enemies; (And their enemies troubled them/oppressed them, and they were humbled at the hands of their enemies;)

43 oft he delivered them. But they wrathed him in their counsel; and they were made low in their wickednesses. (and often he rescued them. But then they stirred him to anger again with their deeds/But still they chose to rebel against him; and so they were brought down low for their wickednesses.)

44 And he saw, when they were set in tribulation; and he heard the prayer of them (and he heard their prayers).

45 And he was mindful of his testament; and it repented him by the multitude of his mercy. (And he remembered his covenant with them; and he relented because of his great love.)