Psalm 106:24-36 NKJV
24 Then they despised the pleasant land;
They did not believe His word,
25 But complained in their tents,
And did not heed the voice of the Lord.
26 Therefore He raised His hand in an oath against them,
To overthrow them in the wilderness,
27 To overthrow their descendants among the nations,
And to scatter them in the lands.
28 They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor,
And ate sacrifices made to the dead.
29 Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds,
And the plague broke out among them.
30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
And the plague was stopped.
31 And that was accounted to him for righteousness
To all generations forevermore.
32 They angered Him also at the waters of strife,
So that it went ill with Moses on account of them;
33 Because they rebelled against His Spirit,
So that he spoke rashly with his lips.
34 They did not destroy the peoples,
Concerning whom the Lord had commanded them,
35 But they mingled with the Gentiles
And learned their works;
36 They served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.
Today’s reading is a powerful recounting of Israel’s repeated failures and God’s enduring mercy. The psalmist highlights how the Israelites, despite witnessing God’s mighty acts of deliverance and provision, continually rejected His goodness and strayed from His will. In verses 24-25 we read how the people “did not believe His word” and “complained in their tents, and did not heed the voice of the Lord.” This mirrors the way we often respond to the Word of God. God’s commands. Rather than trusting His Word, we distrust his faithfulness and are quick to grumble and complain when things don’t go our way, forgetting that God’s ways are always for our good. In our own lives, we may not bow to golden calves as the Israelites did, but we all have idols that take the place of God’s rightful rule in our hearts.
Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God remained faithful. He looked upon their distress and delivered them. Even when we fail, God’s grace is greater. He is patient, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. His faithfulness never depends on our performance but on His unchanging character.
As confessional Lutherans, we believe that this grace is found only in Jesus Christ, who took on the consequences of our rebellion, died for our sin, and rose again to give us new life. When we, like the Israelites, fail and wander, we can return to Him in repentance, knowing that in Christ, God forgives all our sins.
Let us then take heart, knowing that God’s promise is sure. We are His people, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and though we, like Israel, stumble and fall, we can always trust in His mercy.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we confess that we, like the Israelites, often forget Your goodness and doubt Your promises. Forgive us for our grumbling hearts and our wandering ways. Help us to trust in Your unfailing love and to live in the grace You freely offer us through Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, that we may follow You faithfully. In Jesus’ name. Amen.