Psalm_106-A_Mine_of_Infinite_Worth.pdf

On a singularly sweet morning a couple of months ago, the word of God opened up to me during my daily devotional reading in a breathtaking way. As I opened my physical eyes that morning to read, the Lord unveiled my spiritual eyes to behold wonders.

May I invite you into beholding wonders with me as I rehearse again for my soul’s sake a few of the treasures dug from the mine of Psalm 106? Open your own copy of the Scriptures and marvel with me.

The Psalmist begins by calling his soul to worship: “Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord.” Why? “For he is good and his steadfast love endures forever!” Not for a thousand or ten thousand years will God’s love flow to his own, and then the spigot of goodness and grace will run dry; no, his unquenchable love flows forever!

This plea is that God would remember his own so that his own would gladly glory with all of the redeemed people of God (Psalm 106:5). Confession with contrition shapes the prayers of the people of God: Recognizing personal iniquity (v. 6) and corporate sin (v. 7) that can be confessed and forgiven on the basis of God’s righteous covenant-keeping commitment to his children “for his name’s sake” (v. 8).

God’s wonder-working power—displayed in leading his children safely through the Red Sea and then vanquishing their foes as “the waters covered their adversaries”—led the children of Israel to trust in God and worship him (v. 12). Does God’s grace in action lead you to responsively reverence him? Oh, how I long to see my faith abound and my worship deepen!

The priority of faith and the place of obedience are aligned with the gospel-goodness of God. Listen, as the Psalmist agonizes over the disobedience of his spiritual fathers: “They despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD” (vv. 24–25). Obedience flows from belief, and the children refused to receive by faith the pleasures of the Promised Land and murmured against the goodness of God in unbelief and disobedience. Like the children of Israel, in faithlessness I refuse to pursue my pleasure in God, and I murmur my complaints when I don’t get my way. Forgive me, O Lord!

In fact, sin, borne of rebellion (vv. 7, 43), forgetfulness (v. 21), and idolatry (vv. 19, 36, 38), led to judgment by God—just judgment stayed only by the covenant-keeping mercy of God. “Many times he delivered them … He looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love” (vv. 43–45). Thank you, Lord, that your faithful, covenant-keeping love is “from everlasting to everlasting” (v. 48).

God appoints men, Moses (v. 23) and Phinehas (v. 30), as emblematic, pre-figuring redeemers who stand “in the breach” to “intervene” between the righteous God and sinful Israel. Surely, these two men foreshadow the coming of “the man Christ Jesus,” the one true mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5), through whom we ultimately and eternally enjoy peace with God (Romans 5:1).

Finally, the cry of the faithful is a faith-filled cry for help. “Save us, O LORD our God” (Psalm 106:47) is a prayer that God continues to hear and answer. And our response to his provision of help is worship! “Gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel” now and forevermore “and let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Praise the LORD!”

Reveling with you,

Dan Holst
Pastor for North Campus Worship & Vision