Context No. 3027 of 4322 · Psalms

Psalms 106:33-48: in context

33because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips. 34They didn’t destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them, 35but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works. 36They served their idols, which became a snare to them. 37Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. 38They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood. 39Thus they were defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds. 40Therefore the LORD burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance. 41He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them. 42Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand. 43He rescued them many times, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity. 44Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry. 45He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. 46He made them also to be pitied by all those who carried them captive. 47Save us, LORD, our God, gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise! 48Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise the LORD!

This is a hard, honest confession of Israel's history. They did not drive out the nations as commanded, but mixed with them, learned their ways, served their idols, and fell even to the horror of sacrificing their own children, shedding innocent blood, until God gave them into the hands of their enemies. It is a bleak record of repeated, grievous sin and the judgment it brought.

But then comes the turn that changes everything: nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry. He remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. However far they fell, and they fell terribly, God's steadfast love kept a door open; he heard their cry and remembered his covenant with them. The history is not a record of God finally giving up on his people, but of a mercy that outlasts even the worst of their failures. And so the psalm ends not in despair but in a plea: save us, gather us, that we may give thanks.

When I confront the depth of my own or my people's failure, do I despair, or trust the steadfast love that hears the cry and remembers the covenant?

Sources

Psalm 106:44: "Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry."
Psalm 106:45: "He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses."
Romans 5:20: "But where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly."