Psalms 106:17-32: a reflection

17The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. 18A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked. 19They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped a molten image. 20Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass. 21They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, 22wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome things by the Red Sea. 23Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn’t destroy them. 24Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They didn’t believe his word, 25but murmured in their tents, and didn’t listen to the LORD’s voice. 26Therefore he swore to them that he would overthrow them in the wilderness, 27that he would overthrow their offspring among the nations, and scatter them in the lands. 28They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. 29Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them. 30Then Phinehas stood up and executed judgment, so the plague was stopped. 31That was credited to him for righteousness, for all generations to come. 32They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes;

This part of Psalm 106 recites Israel's repeated rebellions in the wilderness: the golden calf, the refusal to believe God's word about the good land, the joining themselves to false gods. And the psalm names the root beneath these sins in a single, piercing line: They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works and awesome things by the sea. Behind their idolatry and unbelief lay forgetfulness; they forgot what God had done for them.

Notice the root the psalm exposes: they forgot God their Savior. They had seen God's wonders in Egypt and at the sea, his mighty acts of deliverance; and yet, not long after, they forgot. And forgetting what God had done, they drifted into idolatry, unbelief, and rebellion. Their sins grew from a soil of forgetfulness; because they did not keep God's past goodness before them, they turned away from him.

That is a warning worth heeding, for forgetfulness is a danger for us too. We, too, have known God's goodness, his deliverances, his answered prayers, his faithfulness in the past; and we, too, are prone to forget, and in forgetting, to drift into unbelief and turning away. Much of our own drifting from God begins in forgetting what he has done. Guard against forgetfulness. Keep God's past goodness before you; remember his deliverances, his faithfulness, the great things he has done for you; recall them often, that you may not forget. Remembering what God has done keeps the heart faithful; forgetting opens the door to turning away. Do not forget God your Savior, but keep his works ever before you.

Lord, Psalm 106 recites Israel's rebellions, and names their root in a piercing line: they forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things for them. Warn me by that. They had seen your wonders, and yet they forgot, and forgetting, they drifted into idolatry and unbelief. Forgetfulness is a danger for me too. I have known your goodness, your deliverances, your answered prayers, your faithfulness in the past; and I, too, am prone to forget, and in forgetting, to drift from you. Much of my own drifting begins in forgetting what you have done. Guard me against forgetfulness. Help me keep your past goodness before me, to remember your deliverances and faithfulness, the things you have done for me, and to recall them often, that I may not forget. Remembering what you have done keeps my heart faithful; help me not forget you, my Savior, but keep your works ever before me.