Day 36 - Psalm 106

Psalm 106 tells the history of Israel's betrayal of God over and over again. Verse after verse, the writer lists the things that Israel did wrong. How they forgot the favor of God, the times he rescued them, the times he provided for them, the love he showed them.

And he often thought to destroy them completely.

Until verse 23 which says,

So he said he would destroy them - 

had not Moses, his chosen one, 

stood in the breach before him

to keep his wrath from destroying them.

But the Israelites didn't listen. They grumbled and complained. They forgot him once more. They made idols and provoked the Lord to anger, and he finally afflicted them with a plague.

That is until Phinehas stepped forward in verses 30-31,

But Phinehas stood up and intervened,

and the plague was checked.

This was credited to him as righteousness

and the plague was checked.

And then they forget again. They mingled with the other nations. They returned to idol worship. They sacrificed their children and defiled themselves. And the Lord was angry again and handed them over to their enemies. 

But this time, the Israelites cried out and the Lord heard them in verses 44-45,

But he took note of their distress

when he heard their cry;

for their sake he remembered his covenant

and out of his great love he relented.

Two thoughts came to mind as I meditated on this Psalm. First, it's a good thing our God is so loving and gracious. He relented on many occasions and gave the Israelites one more chance. Rather than jump on the Israelites for their shortcomings, I'm reminded that I often need a second chance too. And I'm eternally grateful for the times God has heard my cries and relented out of his great love.

The second thought was about Moses and Phinehas interceding for the Israelites. I know that there have been times when others interceded on my behalf and I'm humbled by that and grateful for it. But who is God calling me to intercede for? Who needs my prayers today because they have stumbled along the path? Let's not miss the opportunity to pray for those God lays on our hearts. We may not ever know how important that prayer is to their lives.

- submitted by Holly Barrett