Psalms 106:15

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: -Three transgressions of Israel in the wilderness are detailed, rising in gradation of moral guilt, without respect to time: (1) Their unbelieving impatience in demanding flesh (Psalms 106:13); (2) Their joining Dathan and Abiram in the envious attack on Moses and Aaron, the consecrated servants of Yahweh (Psalms 106:16); (3) Their direct affront to God Himself in forming a golden calf for worship. The sins of Israel in the wilderness are dwelt on at greatest length, because it was by them that the then existing generation forfeited Canaan, implying to their posterity, now captive in Babylon, that their exclusion from Canaan was due to the same cause. Verse 13....

15._He gave them their desire _There is a fine paronomasia in the word רזון, _razon, _for if, instead of ז, _zain, _we read ץ _, tsädhé, _the word would signify _good pleasure. _The prophet, therefore, in allusion to their lusting, by a word which is very similar to good pleasure or desire, says that _God sent leanness into their souls; _meaning by that, that he had indeed gratified the inordinate desires of the people, in such a way, however, as that those who had loathed the manna, now received nothing but leanness. (246) Thus the prophet would seem to charge the people with what we daily observe among those who live luxuriously and are fastidious, especially when their stomach, in consequence of the fluids poured into it, being vitiated, has no relish for wholesome food. For suc

13-33 Those that will not wait for God's counsel, shall justly be given up to their own hearts' lusts, to walk in their own counsels. An undue desire, even for lawful things, becomes sinful. God showed his displeasure for this. He filled them with uneasiness of mind, terror of conscience, and self-reproach. Many that fare deliciously every day, and whose bodies are healthful, have leanness in their souls: no love to God, no thankfulness, no appetite for the Bread of life, and then the soul must be lean. Those wretchedly forget themselves, that feast their bodies and starve their souls. Even the true believer will see abundant cause to say, It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not consumed. Often have we set up idols in our hearts, cleaved to some forbidden object; so that if a greater than Moses had not stood to turn away the anger of the Lord, we should have been destroyed. If God dea...

Verse Psalms 106:15. _SENT LEANNESS_] They despised the manna, and called it _light_, that is, _innutritive, bread_. God gave _flesh_ as they desired, but gave no blessing with it; and in consequence they did not fatten, but grew _lean_ upon it. Their souls also suffered want....

AND HE GAVE THEM THEIR REQUEST - By sending great quantities of quails. Numbers 11:31. BUT SENT LEANNESS INTO THEIR SOUL - The word translated “leanness” is from a verb - רזה _râzeh_ - to make thin; to cause to waste away; to destroy. The radical idea is that of abrading or “scraping;” and hence, it means to become lean, to waste away. It occurs only here and in Isaiah 10:16, rendered “leanness,” and in Micah 6:10, rendered “scant;” margin, “leanness.” It means here that the effect of all this on their souls was similar to the effect on the body when it wastes away by disease or want of food. This effect often occurs

EXPOSITION This is the first of the strictly "Hallelujah psalms"—_i.e._ of the psalms beginning with the phrase "hallelujah"—which are Psalms 106:1, Psalms 111:1, Psalms 112:1, Psalms 113:1, Psalms 135:1, Psalms 146:1, Psalms 147:1, Psalms 148:1,...

AND HE GAVE THEM THEIR REQUEST,.... Flesh and feathered fowl in great abundance; see Psalms 78:27. So God sometimes gives to wicked men what they ask for, as much as they can desire, yea, more than heart could wish. BUT SENT LEANNESS INTO THEIR SOUL: or "body"; the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read, "he sent fulness into their souls"; he gave them flesh to the full, even to a nausea; they fed too heartily on it, and were surfeited with it; which not being digested brought a repletion, and issued in a consumption; or rather death, immediate death, is meant, as Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, interpret it; for while the flesh was in their mouths, and they were chewing it between their teeth, the wrath of God came upon them and slew them, Numbers 11:33

This Psalm relates the story of God's mercy to Israel, of the people's provocation of Jehovah, and of his great patience with them. It commences with an exhortation to praise the Lord. Psalms 106:1. _Praise ye the LORD._ Or, «Hallelujah.» I cannot help remarking here that this is one of the most sacred words in the whole Bible, and it ought always to be pronounced with the utmost reverence. I sometimes feel my blood chill when I hear of «hallelujah lasses» and «hallelujah bonnets.» If those who use such expressions rightly understood the meaning of the word, they would not thus take the name of the Lord in vain? Psalms 106:1. _O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever._ As long as you and I are sinners, this will be on

Psalms 105 AND 106 The Memories of the Past The last two Psalms of this fourth section review the entire history of Israel up to the time of the judges. It is the story of God's faithfulness and mercy, and the story of their shameful failure and apostasy. He is ever mindful of His covenant, and that covenant is mentioned first, as the foundation of all. Then how He watched over them. The story of Joseph is mentioned, followed by the rehearsal of the deliverance out of Egypt. Psalms 106:1 is couched in words of confession, showing their failure all the way, sinning, forgetting, lusting, unbelieving and disobedient. Only infinite mercy and grace could save such a people. Prophetically these Psalms express the repentance and national confession of Israel, when the Lord has saved them. Then with a new

CVI. ISRAEL'S SIN. Psalms 106:1. Introduction. Praise to Yahweh for His power and greatness. The writer's desire to share in Israel's joy. PSALMS 106:3. HE THAT DOETH: read they that do. Psalms 106:5. read throughout we for I. PSALMS 106:6. Israel's constant relapse into sin. PSALMS 106:7_ c._ Read, They were rebellious against the Most High at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10)....