Psalms 106:33-48: a reflection

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 psalm rehearses a long history of Israel's rebellion, failure after failure, rebellion after rebellion; and yet at its heart is a word that shines against all that dark background: nevertheless. Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry, the psalm says; he remembered for them his covenant, and relented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. Again and again they rebelled and were brought low; and again and again, when they cried out, God regarded their distress, remembered his covenant, and relented in mercy. His mercy did not run out with their repeated failures; his steadfast love kept relenting, kept remembering his covenant, kept regarding their cry. However many times they failed, God's persistent mercy kept meeting them, moved by his steadfast love rather than exhausted by their rebellion. That nevertheless is the mercy of God, persisting past all our failures.

Notice the word that turns the psalm: nevertheless. After all the rebellion, all the failure, all the times they were brought low by their own sin, comes this: nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry. God's mercy was not exhausted by their repeated failures; when they cried out, he regarded their distress, remembered his covenant, and relented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. His steadfast love kept meeting them, again and again, however many times they failed. This is the persistence of God's mercy: it does not run out with our repeated failures but keeps relenting, keeps regarding our cry, moved by his steadfast love. The nevertheless of God's mercy stands against the whole long record of failure; his compassion persists past all our rebellion. God keeps meeting his people with mercy, not because they deserve it, but because of the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

That is worth resting in, for God's mercy persists past our repeated failures, moved by his steadfast love. We can feel that our repeated failures must finally exhaust God's mercy, that after so many times of falling we have used up his patience; but the psalm's nevertheless stands: after all Israel's rebellion, God still regarded their distress, remembered his covenant, and relented in mercy. His steadfast love does not run out with our failures; his mercy keeps meeting us when we cry out. When you fear you have exhausted God's mercy by your repeated failures, remember his nevertheless, his persistent mercy that keeps relenting. Rest in the persistent mercy of God, which does not run out with our repeated failures but keeps regarding our cry and relenting according to his steadfast love, as the psalm says nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry; for God's mercy is not exhausted by our rebellion but persists past all our failures, moved by the multitude of his loving kindnesses rather than by our deserving, so that when we cry out he still meets us with mercy.

Lord, this psalm rehearses a long history of Israel's rebellion, failure after failure, rebellion after rebellion; and yet at its heart is a word that shines against all that dark background: nevertheless. Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry, the psalm says; he remembered for them his covenant, and relented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. Again and again they rebelled and were brought low; and again and again, when they cried out, you regarded their distress, remembered your covenant, and relented in mercy. Your mercy did not run out with their repeated failures; your steadfast love kept relenting. Show me the word that turns the psalm: nevertheless. After all the rebellion, all the failure, all the times they were brought low by their own sin, comes this: nevertheless he regarded their distress. Your mercy was not exhausted by their repeated failures; when they cried out, you regarded their distress, remembered your covenant, and relented according to the multitude of your loving kindnesses. Your steadfast love kept meeting them, again and again, however many times they failed. This is the persistence of your mercy: it does not run out with our repeated failures. Let me rest in that, for your mercy persists past my repeated failures, moved by your steadfast love. I can feel that my repeated failures must finally exhaust your mercy, that after so many times of falling I have used up your patience; but the psalm's nevertheless stands. Your steadfast love does not run out with my failures. When I fear I have exhausted your mercy by my repeated failures, help me remember your nevertheless, Lord, your persistent mercy that keeps relenting and regarding my cry according to your steadfast love.