Psalm 106 and 107
Opening Prayer
Gracious and merciful God,
We come before You with hearts full of gratitude and awe. You are the Lord who has been faithful through every generation, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. As we open Your Word today to Psalms 106 and 107, we thank You for the honest story they tell—of our repeated failures and Your never-ending faithfulness.
In Psalm 106 we remember how easily Your people forgot Your mighty works, how we too have rebelled, complained, and turned away from You. Yet even in our sin, You heard our cries and delivered us. In Psalm 107 we see Your power to rescue us from every kind of trouble—from wandering in the wilderness, from darkness and chains, from sickness and storms. You bring us out of distress and lead us into places of peace.
Lord, open our eyes to see Your hand at work in our own lives. Teach us to remember Your goodness, confess our wanderings, and give You the thanks You deserve. May these psalms stir in us true repentance, deep gratitude, and fresh trust in Your unfailing love.
Speak to us now through Your Word, Holy Spirit, and draw us closer to Jesus, our perfect Redeemer. We pray this in His mighty name.
Amen.
Scripture NKJV
Psalms 106
Joy in Forgiveness of Israel’s Sins
1 Praise the Lord!
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?
Who can declare all His praise?
3 Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times!
4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people.
Oh, visit me with Your salvation,
5 That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,
That I may glory with Your inheritance.
6 We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity,
We have done wickedly.
7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies,
But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.
8 Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, That He might make His mighty power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; So He led them through the depths,
As through the wilderness.
10 He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their enemies; There was not one of them left.
12 Then they believed His words; They sang His praise.
13 They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel,
14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert.
15 And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.
16 When they envied Moses in the camp, And Aaron the saint of the Lord,
17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan, And covered the faction of Abiram.
18 A fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked.
19 They made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped the molded image.
20 Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass.
21 They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt,
22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea.
23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach,
To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.
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.
37 They even sacrificed their sons And their daughters to demons,
38 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.
39 Thus they were defiled by their own works, And played the harlot by their own deeds.
40 Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people, So that He abhorred His own inheritance.
41 And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, And those who hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.
43 Many times He delivered them; But they rebelled in their counsel,
And were brought low for their iniquity.
44 Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, When He heard their cry;
45 And for their sake He remembered His covenant, And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.
46 He also made them to be pitied By all those who carried them away captive.
47 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.
48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the Lord!
Psalms 107
BOOK FIVE: Psalms 107—150
Thanksgiving to the Lord for His Great Works of Deliverance
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And He led them forth by the right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Bound in affliction and irons—
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two.
17 Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters,
24 They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
26 They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths;
Their soul melts because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
And are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses.
29 He calms the storm, So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;
So He guides them to their desired haven.
31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings.
36 There He makes the hungry dwell,
That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards, That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle decrease.
39 When they are diminished and brought low
Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
And makes their families like a flock.
42 The righteous see it and rejoice, And all iniquity stops its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
What it means
Psalm 106
Psalm 106 is a powerful community confession and historical psalm that contrasts God's unwavering faithfulness with Israel's repeated unfaithfulness. It is often paired with Psalm 105 (which celebrates God's mighty acts and covenant faithfulness) as its "dark counterpart," focusing instead on human failure and God's mercy.
Structure and Key Themes
The psalm can be outlined as follows:
Opening Praise and Prayer (verses 1–5): It begins with a call to worship: “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (v. 1). The psalmist asks God to remember and save His people so they can rejoice in His goodness.
Corporate Confession (verse 6): “Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.” This sets the tone: the present generation identifies with the sins of their ancestors.
Historical Review of Rebellion (verses 7–43): The bulk of the psalm recounts Israel’s failures from the Exodus onward, showing a repeating cycle:
Forget God’s works → Rebel or complain → Face consequences → Cry out → God delivers (but they soon forget again).
Specific examples include:
At the Red Sea: They rebelled despite seeing God’s power (vv. 7–12).
In the wilderness: Craving, testing God, jealousy of Moses and Aaron, the golden calf at Horeb, grumbling about the Promised Land, idolatry at Baal of Peor, and angering God at Meribah (vv. 13–33).
In the land of Canaan: Failing to drive out the nations, adopting their idols, even sacrificing their children to demons, leading to oppression and exile (vv. 34–43).
God’s Faithful Response (verses 44–46): Despite everything, “Nevertheless, 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.”
Closing Prayer and Doxology (verses 47–48): “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations…” It ends with “Blessed be the Lord… Praise the Lord!” (Hallelujah).
Core Message
Psalm 106 is a national confession that honestly acknowledges sin without excusing it. It shows that human beings are prone to forgetfulness, ingratitude, and rebellion—even after witnessing miracles. Yet God’s chesed (steadfast love/mercy) is greater. He saves “for his name’s sake” (v. 8), keeps His covenant, and repeatedly rescues His people. The psalm does not end in despair but in hope and renewed praise.
What Psalm 106 Means for Us Today
This psalm is deeply relevant as both a warning and an encouragement:
The Danger of Forgetting Like Israel, we easily forget God’s past faithfulness when facing new challenges. We grumble, chase idols (success, comfort, pleasure, politics), or compromise with the culture around us. The psalm warns that forgetfulness leads to spiritual decline, division, and bondage.
The Reality of Our Sin We are quick to identify with the “good guys” in Bible stories, but Psalm 106 invites us to confess honestly: “We and our fathers have sinned.” This fosters humility and guards against self-righteousness.
The Greater Power of God’s Mercy No matter how many times we fail, God’s steadfast love is bigger. He hears our cries, remembers His promises (ultimately fulfilled in Jesus), and delivers us. This points forward to the gospel—Jesus is the perfect mediator who “stood in the breach” (like Moses, v. 23) once and for all.
A Call to Gratitude, Repentance, and Prayer
Remember: Regularly recall what God has done in your life and in history.
Give Thanks: Even when confessing sin, start and end with praise.
Cry Out: When we wander, the right response is to repent and ask God to save and restore us.
Live Faithfully: Learn from Israel’s mistakes and pursue obedience, justice, and righteousness (v. 3).
In a broader sense, Psalm 106 serves as a mirror for individuals, churches, and even nations. It reminds us that God’s people are not saved by their own perfection but by His grace—and that grace should lead us to live differently.
Psalm 107
Psalm 107 is a joyful thanksgiving psalm that celebrates God’s steadfast love (hesed) and His power to rescue people from every kind of trouble. It is often paired with Psalm 106: while 106 focuses on Israel’s repeated rebellion and God’s mercy despite their sin, Psalm 107 emphasizes grateful praise for God’s deliverance.
Overall Structure
Introduction (vv. 1–3): A call to praise. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands…”
Four Vivid Pictures of Distress and Deliverance (vv. 4–32): Each picture follows the same powerful pattern:
A desperate situation
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble…”
God delivers them
“Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!”
God’s Sovereign Power to Transform (vv. 33–42): God can turn rivers into desert and deserts into pools of water. He humbles the proud and lifts up the needy.
Conclusion (v. 43): “Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”
The Four Pictures of Rescue
These are like four dramatic vignettes showing that God rescues people in very different circumstances. Everyone’s story is unique, yet the pattern is the same.
Wanderers in the Desert (vv. 4–9) People lost in trackless wilderness — hungry, thirsty, faint. No way to a city. God led them by a straight way to a place to dwell. He satisfied the longing soul and filled the hungry with good things. → Picture of those who feel spiritually lost, directionless, or in a dry season.
Prisoners in Darkness (vv. 10–16) Rebels who sat in darkness and gloom, prisoners in affliction and irons, because they rebelled against God’s words. God brought them out of darkness, broke their bonds, and shattered the gates of bronze. → Picture of those trapped by their own sin, guilt, or destructive patterns.
The Sick Near Death (vv. 17–22) Fools whose waywardness and iniquities brought them near the gates of death. God sent His word and healed them, delivering them from destruction. → Picture of those suffering physically, emotionally, or spiritually because of foolish choices.
Sailors in the Storm (vv. 23–32) Merchants on the sea who saw God’s works in the deep. A storm arose — waves lifted them to heaven and plunged them to the depths; they reeled like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. God made the storm be still, brought them to their desired haven. → Picture of those facing overwhelming chaos, danger, or life-threatening crises.
Key Themes
God’s Steadfast Love (Hesed): Repeated emphasis on God’s loyal, covenant love that pursues and rescues.
The Power of Crying Out: In every case, the turning point is honest prayer in desperation.
God Changes Things: He reverses circumstances — wilderness to oasis, prison to freedom, sickness to health, storm to calm.
Universal Scope: The redeemed come from every direction (east, west, north, south), showing God’s care for all kinds of people in all kinds of trouble.
Call to Testimony: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” Gratitude should be vocal and public.
What Psalm 107 Means for Us Today
This psalm is incredibly practical and encouraging for modern life:
No trouble is beyond God’s reach. Whether you feel lost, trapped in addiction/guilt, sick in body or soul, or tossed by life’s storms, God specializes in rescue.
Desperation often leads to deliverance. Many of us only cry out when we’re at our “wits’ end” — yet God is merciful and responds.
Gratitude is the right response. The repeated refrain calls us to tell our stories of God’s faithfulness. In a complaining culture, Psalm 107 trains us to become people who “say so.”
Jesus as the Greater Deliverer. Christians see this psalm pointing to Christ:
He is the Way for wanderers.
He sets captives free (Isaiah 61, Luke 4).
He is the Great Physician who heals with His word.
He calms the storms (Mark 4:39). Ultimately, He redeems us from the greatest trouble — sin and death.
Wisdom Application (v. 43): The wise person pays attention to these stories and keeps meditating on God’s steadfast love. This builds faith for the next storm.
Psalm 107 pairs beautifully with 106: confession of sin leads naturally to joyful thanksgiving for rescue. Both remind us that God’s people are defined not by their failures but by His faithful love.
Psalm 106: “Remember how bad we were.” Psalm 107: “Remember how good God is.”
One humbles us. The other lifts us up. Together they lead us to worship.
Closing
As we close our time in Psalms 106 and 107, we see a beautiful gospel rhythm: honest confession of our repeated failures (Psalm 106) flows into joyful thanksgiving for God’s repeated rescues (Psalm 107). Together they remind us that we are a people prone to wander, yet held fast by a God whose steadfast love never fails. No matter how far we have strayed or how fierce our storms may be, the Lord hears our cry, remembers His covenant, and delivers us—for His name’s sake. May these twin psalms leave us humbled by our sin, amazed by His grace, and eager to declare with our lives: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!”
Thank you for joining me today. I hope you have a blessing day and spend time remembering just how loving and wonderful our God is. I love you.
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Special thanks are given to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, for the gift of writing and the privilege of sharing this Bible Study. His guidance and blessings have made this work possible, and it is with a grateful heart that can share my study with you. I hope you find it informational and helpful in your spiritual journey. I am asking that you open your hearts and minds to accept the word of Christ into your hearts and accept His word to transform your life in positive ways. This is the first part of my online Christian Bookstore Fellowship and I do accept donations that will further my mission to have a Bookstore in our community, a place where we can sit down face to face and enjoy this Bible Study over open and honest conversation. I will continue this online Study as well to complete the entire year. Thank you for following The Mustard Seed Christian Bookstore Fellowship & Café online Bible Study.
This Bible study is written with inspiration and wisdom from the Holy Spirit, Scripture from the Holy Bible (NIV), NKJV Life Application Study Bible, analytical support and help in organizing and presentation from Grok AI and writing assistance with drafting and editing from Microsoft Co-Pilot.
