Psalms 106:1-16: a reflection

1Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. 2Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD, or fully declare all his praise? 3Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times. 4Remember me, LORD, with the favor that you show to your people. Visit me with your salvation, 5that I may see the prosperity of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance. 6We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly. 7Our fathers didn’t understand your wonders in Egypt. They didn’t remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses, but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea. 8Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power known. 9He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; so he led them through the depths, as through a desert. 10He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11The waters covered their adversaries. There was not one of them left. 12Then they believed his words. They sang his praise. 13They soon forgot his works. They didn’t wait for his counsel, 14but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland. 15He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. 16They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, the LORD’s saint.

As this psalm recounts Israel's history of sin, it names a sobering thing that happened when the people insisted on their cravings in the wilderness. They gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God; and the psalm says: He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. They got what they craved; God granted their insistent demand. But with the granting came a leanness of soul, an emptiness; the very thing they had craved, once given, left their souls lean. Getting what they insisted on did not satisfy, but impoverished them.

Notice the sobering outcome: they got what they craved, but it brought leanness of soul. Their craving was not denied; God gave them their request. But the granting was not a blessing; with it came a leanness, an emptiness of soul. What they had insisted on, once received, did not satisfy or enrich them; it left them lean. Sometimes the granting of an insistent craving is not a mercy but a judgment; God may give us what we demand, and let the getting of it teach us its emptiness. The craving satisfied left the soul lean.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can insist on our own cravings, and getting them may leave us lean of soul. We can crave something intensely, demanding it, testing God, insisting on having it; and God may grant it, but the getting of it may bring not satisfaction but a leanness of soul, an emptiness. What we insist on may not be for our good, and getting it may impoverish rather than enrich us. Do not insist on your own cravings as though getting them would surely satisfy; the people got what they craved, and it left their souls lean. Be wary of demanding your own way, insisting on your cravings, lest God grant them and the getting leave you lean of soul; trust God's wisdom in what he gives and withholds, rather than insisting on cravings that, even granted, may bring leanness of soul, as Israel got their request but received leanness with it.

Lord, as this psalm recounts Israel's history of sin, it names a sobering thing that happened when the people insisted on their cravings in the wilderness. They gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God; and the psalm says: he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. They got what they craved; you granted their insistent demand. But with the granting came a leanness of soul, an emptiness; the very thing they had craved left their souls lean. Show me the sobering outcome: they got what they craved, but it brought leanness of soul. Their craving was not denied; you gave them their request. But the granting was not a blessing; with it came a leanness. What they had insisted on, once received, did not satisfy or enrich them. Sometimes the granting of an insistent craving is not a mercy but a judgment; you may give us what we demand, and let the getting of it teach us its emptiness. Take that to my heart, for I can insist on my own cravings, and getting them may leave me lean of soul. I can crave something intensely, demanding it, insisting on having it; and you may grant it, but the getting may bring not satisfaction but a leanness of soul. What I insist on may not be for my good. Keep me from insisting on my own cravings as though getting them would surely satisfy; the people got what they craved, and it left their souls lean. Help me trust your wisdom in what you give and withhold, Lord, rather than insisting on cravings that, even granted, may bring leanness of soul.