Blessing the Lord from Everlasting to Everlasting – Psalm 106:24-48

“Then they despised the pleasant land. They did not believe His Word, but complained in their tents, and did not heed the voice of the Lord. Therefore, He raised His hand in an oath against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness, to overthrow their descendants among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.” Psalm 106:24-27

Most of the Israelites trusted the doubts of doubters rather than the belief of the two believers Caleb and Joshua. In Numbers 14:10-12, they spoke of stoning Moses and Aaron until the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.

In Numbers 14:28-30, the Lord said to Moses, “Tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: in this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you 20 years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against Me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”

The earthly Promised Land is a type of the heavenly Promised Land. God has given the promise of eternal life to whosoever believes in His Son Jesus Christ. Sadly, many doubt the words of Christ. They will not enter the heavenly Promised Land.

The lesson is clear: those who despise God’s gift eventually forfeit it. Those who reject His gracious offer of eternal life, will not enter the heavenly Promised Land. [1]

“They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices made to the dead. Thus, they provoked Him to anger with their deeds, and the plague broke out among them.” Psalm 106:28-29

The Israelites committed a serious sin when they were a step away from entering the Promised Land. They joined themselves to sexually immoral idol worshippers. God made His displeasure known by sending a plague among the people, which quickly swept away 24,000 of them. [2]

Many years later, in Joshua 22:17-18, Joshua exclaimed, “Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! And are you now turning away from the Lord?”

“Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stopped. And that was accounted to him for righteousness to all generations forevermore.” Psalm 106:30-31

Filled with zeal for the Lord, Phinehas stood up and executed judgment on Zimri and Cozbi, prominent offenders who had openly defied God. As with Abraham, God accounted the faith of Phinehas as righteousness. [3]

In Romans 4:3-6, it is written, “What does Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.”

Through this one man’s act, guilt was no longer charged to the nation. In this way, Phinehas was a type of Christ. He did what God’s Spirit led him to do on behalf of others.

“They angered Him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses on account of them, because they rebelled against His Spirit, so that he spoke rashly with his lips.” Psalm 106:32-33

The psalmist recalls Israel’s rebellion at the waters of Meribah, where their constant grumbling provoked Moses to speak rashly and react contrary to God’s will.

“They did not destroy the peoples, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them.” Psalm 106:34

After receiving the good land God had promised them, they showed no zeal in removing the wicked inhabitants whom He had ordered them to drive out. [4]

They likely assumed they could avoid being influenced by them, but they eventually succumbed to their practices. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, God’s Word says, “Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits.”

“But they mingled with the Gentiles and learned their works. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.” Psalm 106:35-38

One sin led to others. After a while, they began to sacrifice their sons and daughters to demons. The very thought is horrifying. The beginning of idolatry and superstition, like the beginning of a flood, may seem small, but once unleashed there is no telling how far it will go. [5]

In his book “Finishing Strong,” Steve Farrar wrote, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

We need to say, “NO” to sin. In 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul warns us, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” A sensitive conscience is better than a seared one. When tempted say, “NO!”

“Thus they were defiled by their own works and played the harlot by their own deeds.” Psalm 106:39

They defiled themselves by participating in ungodly activities. Their rebellion was especially offensive because they had known God’s goodness and love. [6]

“Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people, so that He abhorred His own inheritance.” Psalm 106:40

God’s judgments followed, as they inevitably do. The change was not in God but in them. [7]

“And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, and those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.” Psalm 106:41-42

Notice how the punishment matched the sin. They willingly mingled with the heathen and learned their ways; therefore God used those same nations to discipline them. Often the very people who lead others into sin become instruments of their suffering. Satan, who tempts, also torments. The nations that ruled over Israel hated them and oppressed them harshly. In this way God taught them the difference between serving Him and serving earthly rulers (2 Chronicles 12:8). [8]

“Many times He delivered them, but they rebelled in their counsel and were brought low for their iniquity.” Psalm 106:43

God raised up deliverers for them during the period of the Judges. Time after time God rescued them, yet they relapsed into idolatry and provoked Him with their own misguided plans and inventions. As a result, He allowed new oppressors to rise against them, and they were brought very low because of their iniquity. [9]

“Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry; and for their sake He remembered His covenant and relented according to the multitude of His mercies.” Psalm 106:44-45

Though God had every reason to destroy them, He relented according to the greatness of His mercy. While God does not change His character or promises, He graciously changes His dealings with people when they turn to Him. The Lord God showed them mercy once again. They were disciplined but not destroyed; cast down but not abandoned. [10]

“He also made them to be pitied by all those who carried them away captive.” Psalm 106 46

As a God of power, He turned the hearts of their captors toward them. He not only restrained their enemies from completely destroying them but even caused those enemies to show compassion. No human effort could have produced such a change. God can transform hearts, turning lions into lambs. When a person’s ways please the Lord, He can even cause his enemies to show favor and compassion. [11]

“Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy Name, to triumph in Your praise.” Psalm 106:47

Even after God had begun restoring His people, there was still reason to pray for a fuller restoration. The psalmist asked God to gather His scattered people so they might once again worship Him, give thanks to His holy Name, and rejoice in His praise. [12]

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Praise the Lord!” Psalm 106:48

Blessing the Lord from everlasting to everlasting is what we who receive His gracious promise of eternal life shall do. The Lord God Almighty is leading us into the heavenly Promised Land through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. In the celestial city all the people of God are gathered together and they say such words as, “Amen” and “Praise the Lord!” Everyone is full of love, joy and praise in the presence of the Lord!


[1-12] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary