Psalms 106:8

106:6-12 Here begins a confession of sin; for we must acknowledge that the Lord has done right, and we have done wickedly. We are encouraged to hope that though justly corrected, yet we shall not be utterly forsaken. God's afflicted people own themselves guilty before him. God is distrusted because his favours are not remembered. If he did not save us for his own name's sake, and to the praise of his power and grace, we should all perish.

Nevertheless, he saved them for his name's sake,.... Not for any worth or worthiness in them; not for their righteousness sake, for they were a rebellious and disobedient people; but for his name's sake, because his name was called upon them, and he was called the God of the Hebrews, as Aben Ezra observes; and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their ancestors; to whom he had promised the land of Canaan, and was their covenant God; and because of his covenant, and of his divine perfections, and the glory of them, which were engaged to make it good; therefore he saved them, see Ezekiel 20:9 . And so the spiritual Israel of God are saved, not for any superior excellencies in them, for they are in no wise better than others; nor for their righteousness sake; but to display the wisdom and faithfulness of God, his grace and mercy, his justice and holiness, power, goodness, and truth. And so here it follows; that he might make his mighty power to be known; not only among the Israelites, but among the nations of the world; who, had he not saved them, might have thought, and said, that it was for want of power, and that he could not do it; see Deuteronomy 9:28.

Psalm 106:8-12 . Nevertheless, he saved them for his name’s sake — That he might glorify his name, and vindicate it from the blasphemous reproaches which the Egyptians and others would have cast upon it if the Israelites had been destroyed. He rebuked the sea also — For standing in their way, and retarding their march; and it was dried up — Immediately; as, in the creation, at God’s rebuke the waters fled, Psalm 104:7 . He led them through the depths as through the wilderness — As securely as if they had walked upon the dry land. He saved them from him that hated them — From Pharaoh, who pursued them with cruel rage and hatred. The waters covered their enemies — So as to slay them, but not so as to conceal their shame; for, the next tide, they were thrown up dead upon the shore. There was not one of them left — To carry tidings what was become of the rest. Then believed they his words — The Israelites acknowledged that God was with them of a truth, and had, in mercy to them, brought them out of Egypt, and not with any design to slay them in the wilderness. Then they feared the Lord, and his servant Moses, Exodus 14:31 . They sang his praise — In that song of Moses, penned on this great occasion, Exodus 15:1 . Observe, reader, in what a gracious and merciful way God sometimes silences the unbelief of his people, and turns their fears into praises!

8 . Their conduct would have justified Jehovah in taking them at their word, and leaving them to return to Egypt, but for His name’s sake , in order to uphold His character as a God of mercy, and to make known His might to the nations of the earth ( Psalm 77:14 ), He delivered them. Cp. Ezekiel 20:9 ; Ezekiel 20:14 , a chapter evidently in the Psalmist’s mind: see Psalm 106:26-27 .

Nevertheless, he saved them for his name's sake - For the promotion of his own honor and glory; that it might be seen that he is powerful and merciful. This is constantly given as the reason why God saves people; why he forgives sin; why he redeems the soul; why he delivers from danger and from death. Compare Ezekiel 36:22 , Ezekiel 36:32 ; Isaiah 37:35 ; Isaiah 43:25 ; Isaiah 48:9 ; Jeremiah 14:7 ; Psalm 6:4 ; Psalm 23:3 ; Psalm 25:11 ; Psalm 31:16 ; Psalm 44:26 . This is the highest reason which can be assigned for pardoning and saving sinners. That he might make his mighty power to be known - Exodus 9:16. Compare the notes at Romans 9:17.

The key-note of the vidduj, which is a settled expression since 1 Kings 8:47 ( Daniel 9:5 , cf. Bar. 2:12), makes itself heard here in Psalm 106:6 ; Israel is bearing at this time the punishment of its sins, by which it has made itself like its forefathers. In this needy and helpless condition the poet, who all along speaks as a member of the assembly, takes the way of the confession of sin, which leads to the forgiveness of sin and to the removal of the punishment of sin. רשׁע, 1 Kings 8:47 , signifies to be, and the Hiph. to prove one's self to be, a רשׁע. עם in Psalm 106:6 is equivalent to aeque ac, as in Ecclesiastes 2:16 ; Job 9:26 . With Psalm 106:7 the retrospect begins. The fathers contended with Moses and Aaron in Egypt ( Exodus 5:21 ), and gave no heed to the prospect of redemption ( Exodus 6:9 ). The miraculous judgments which Moses executed ( Exodus 3:20 ) had no more effect in bringing them to a right state of mind, and the abundant tokens of loving-kindness ( Isaiah 63:7 ) amidst which God redeemed them made so little impression on their memories that they began to despair and to murmur even at the Red Sea ( Exodus 14:11 .). With על, Psalm 106:7 , alternates בּ (as in Ezekiel 10:15 , בּנהר); cf. the alternation of prepositions in Joel 3:8 . When they behaved thus, Jahve might have left their redemption unaccomplished, but out of unmerited mercy He nevertheless redeemed them. Psalm 106:8-11 are closely dependent upon Exodus 14 .

Psalm 106:11 is a transposition (cf. Psalm 34:21 ; Isaiah 34:16 ) from Exodus 14:28 . On the other hand, Psalm 106:9 is taken out of Isaiah 63:13 (cf. Wisd. 19:9); Isaiah 63:7-64:12 is a prayer for redemption which has a similar ground-colouring. The sea through which they passed is called, as in the Tפra, ים־סוּף, which seems, according to Exodus 2:3 ; Isaiah 19:3 , to signify the sea of reed or sedge, although the sedge does not grow in the Red Sea itself, but only on the marshy places of the coast; but it can also signify the sea of sea-weed, mare algosum, after the Egyptian sippe, wool and sea-weed (just as Arab. ṣûf also signifies both these). The word is certainly Egyptian, whether it is to be referred back to the Egyptian word sippe (sea-weed) or seebe (sedge), and is therefore used after the manner of a proper name; so that the inference drawn by Knobel on Exodus 8:18 from the absence of the article, that סוּף is the name of a town on the northern point of the gulf, is groundless. The miracle at the sea of sedge or sea-weed - as Psalm 106:12 says - also was not without effect. Exodus 14:31 tells us that they believed on Jahve and Moses His servant, and the song which they sang follows in Exodus 15 . But they then only too quickly added sins of ingratitude.

[Bible] 105:39. And was defiled with their works: and they went aside after their own inventions. 105:40. And the Lord was exceedingly angry with his people: and he abhorred his inheritance. 105:41. And he delivered them into the hands of the nations: and they that hated them had dominion over them. 105:42. And their enemies afflicted them: and they were humbled under their hands: 105:43. Many times did he deliver them. But they provoked him with their counsel: and they were brought low by their iniquities. 105:44. And he saw when they were in tribulation: and he heard their prayer. 105:45. And he was mindful of his covenant: and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. 105:46. And he gave them unto mercies, in the sight of all those that had made them captives. 105:47. Save us, O Lord, our God: and gather us from among the nations: That we may give thanks to thy holy name, and may glory in thy praise. 105:48. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say: So be it, so be it. Psalms Chapter 106 Confitemini Domino. All are invited to give thanks to God for his perpetual providence over men.. Alleluia. 106:1. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 106:2. Let them say so that have been redeemed by the Lord, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy: and gathered out of the countries. 106:3. From the rising and from the setting of the sun, from the north and from the sea. 106:4. They wandered in a wilderness, in a place without water: they found not the way of a city for their habitation. 106:5. They were hungry and thirsty: their soul fainted in them. 106:6. And they cried to the Lord in their tribulation: and he delivered them out of their distresses. 106:7. And he led them into the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. 106:8. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his wonderful works to the children of men.