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Psalm 106 - Tell of all our despicable deeds

You'll have to forgive the slightly cheeky title that riffs off yesterday's actual quote from Psalm 105. 

What can I say, an opportunity to alliterate can't be passed up. 


I was so amazed to read Psalm 106 this morning and see all the similarities to the psalm that comes before. It's basically a retelling of the psalm but with a different lens. A different perspective. 


Do you remember how the whole of Psalm 105 was filled with God's actions? He did this, he did that.


Well, Psalm 106 flips the whole of Israel's story - rescue from Egypt, wandering in the wilderness - and comments, rather than on God's marvellous works, on Israel's despicable inability to obey. It's another long one, so I'd invite you to have a read for yourself. Do take the time to marvel at all the parallels between these two psalms. 

The guilt piles up; one thing after the next. On the charge of whether God's people have treated their God as they ought, the answer is a resounding "no".

Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. 
Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. (106:6-7)

They made a calf in Horeb. and worshiped a metal image.
They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.
They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,
wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 
Therefore he said he would destroy them - had not Moses, his chosen one, 
stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them. (106:19-23)

My mind is blown!!! See the psalmist's repetition of the phrase, "wondrous works" that we saw yesterday? Clearly, these wondrous works of creation and rescue deserve an appropriate response - a response which, according to Psalm 106, humans have historically and faithfully failed to deliver.

The psalmist is brutally honest: there's even been little attempt to deliver.

To try to argue our way out of our guilt, in how we too have treated our God would be foolish and dishonest.
It is not enough to acknowledge that God is powerful for saving his people from slavery.
We must also acknowledge that he is utterly awesome for not destroying us, as he ought.

In this psalm (verse 23 & 31) we hear of two people, Moses and Phinehas. Moses "stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them". Phinehas "stood up and intervened". Friends, we have seen a better Moses & Phinehas. 

The Lord Jesus has stood in the breach before God, to turn away his wrath from destroying us. 
My heart has been exposed and accurately diagnosed in Psalm 106. 
My view of God's wondrous works is so small and ungrateful. 
I need this psalm to remind me of how bad and inappropriate my treatment of God has been. 
How desperately I need someone to "stand in the breach". 
How grateful I am that He, my Lord Jesus, has.

Oh dear - these thoughts are getting so long and rambly - thanks for reading them and encouraging me. My time in God's Word this week has been so much more enjoyable by writing this stuff down, so thanks!!

Much much love!
Aimee

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