Psalms 106:34

They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: -From the fathers in the wilderness the Psalmist turns to the sons in Canaan. In the former half of the decade their sins are mentioned; in the second half the judgments of God upon them for their sins. Verse 34. THEY DID NOT DESTROY THE NATIONS - from want of faith, holy zeal, and whole-hearted energy; not from want of inclination because of compassion (Judges 1:21; Judges 1:27-7). CONCERNING WHOM THE LORD COMMANDED THEM - (Exodus 23:32-2; Exodus 34:11-2;...

34._They did not destroy the nations _It appears to me that those persons are mistaken who think that the prophet is here simply giving a relation of the punishment which was inflicted upon the Jews, as if he were imputing to them the entire blame of not exterminating the nations, in consequence of their not deserving the honor of obtaining any more victories over them. But he rather prefers another charge against them, that they had been remiss in driving out the heathen, or more probably that they had not obeyed the Divine command to root them out of the land. Now that the cup of the iniquity of the Amorites was full, it was the purpose of God that they should be exterminated, lest their society might prove injurious to the holy people. For God, having chosen that land for a habitation to himself, intended that it should be holy and purified from all defilement. In refusing, therefore,...

34-48 The conduct of the Israelites in Canaan, and God's dealings with them, show that the way of sin is down-hill; omissions make way for commissions: when they neglected to destroy the heathen, they learned their works. One sin led to many more, and brought the judgments of God on them. Their sin was, in part, their own punishment. Sinners often see themselves ruined by those who led them into evil. Satan, who is a tempter, will be a tormentor. At length, God showed pity to his people for his covenant's sake. The unchangeableness of God's merciful nature and love to his people, makes him change the course of justice into mercy; and no other change is meant by God's repentance. Our case is awful when the outward church is considered. When nations professing Christianity, are so guilty as we are, no wonder if the Lord brings them low for their sins. Unless there is general and deep repe...

THEY DID NOT DESTROY THE NATIONS - The Canaanites, Hivites, Jebusites, etc.; the nations that inhabited the land of Canaan. CONCERNING WHOM THE LORD COMMANDED THEM - The command on this subject was positive; and it was to destroy them, to spare none of them. Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 7:16....

EXPOSITION This is the first of the strictly "Hallelujah psalms"—_i.e._ of the psalms beginning with the phrase "hallelujah"—which are Psalms 106:1, Psalms 111:1, Psalms 112:1, Psalms 113:1, Psalms 135:1, Psalms 146:1, Psalms 147:1, Psalms 148:1,...

THEY DID NOT DESTROY THE NATIONS,.... Here begins an account of their sins and provocations, after they were settled in the land of Canaan. They did not destroy the inhabitants of the land, of the seven nations; whose land was given to them as an inheritance, and of which the Canaanites were dispossessed for their sins, and to be destroyed. CONCERNING WHOM THE LORD COMMANDED THEM; that they should destroy them; the command is in Deuteronomy 7:1. God's commands are to be obeyed; they are neither to be added to, nor diminished from; his commands are transgressed and violated by sins of omission or commission; the Israelites might plead mercy, but this was no excuse to an express command: the same sin Saul was afterwards guilty of, with respect to one of these nations, 1 Samuel 15:2. Tho

This Psalm relates the story of God's mercy to Israel, of the people's provocation of Jehovah, and of his great patience with them. It commences with an exhortation to praise the Lord. Psalms 106:1. _Praise ye the LORD._ Or, «Hallelujah.» I cannot help remarking here that this is one of the most sacred words in the whole Bible, and it ought always to be pronounced with the utmost reverence. I sometimes feel my blood chill when I hear of «hallelujah lasses» and «hallelujah bonnets.» If those who use such expressions rightly understood the meaning of the word, they would not thus take the name of the Lord in vain? Psalms 106:1. _O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever._ As long as you and I are sinners, this will be on

Psalms 105 AND 106 The Memories of the Past The last two Psalms of this fourth section review the entire history of Israel up to the time of the judges. It is the story of God's faithfulness and mercy, and the story of their shameful failure and apostasy. He is ever mindful of His covenant, and that covenant is mentioned first, as the foundation of all. Then how He watched over them. The story of Joseph is mentioned, followed by the rehearsal of the deliverance out of Egypt. Psalms 106:1 is couched in words of confession, showing their failure all the way, sinning, forgetting, lusting, unbelieving and disobedient. Only infinite mercy and grace could save such a people. Prophetically these Psalms express the repentance and national confession of Israel, when the Lord has saved them. Then with a new

CVI. ISRAEL'S SIN. Psalms 106:1. Introduction. Praise to Yahweh for His power and greatness. The writer's desire to share in Israel's joy. PSALMS 106:3. HE THAT DOETH: read they that do. Psalms 106:5. read throughout we for I. PSALMS 106:6. Israel's constant relapse into sin. PSALMS 106:7_ c._ Read, They were rebellious against the Most High at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10)....

DID NOT DESTROY. Compare Judges 1:21, &c. NATIONS. peoples: i.e. the Canaanite nations. See App-23 and App-25. COMMANDED. Compare Exodus 23:32; Exodus 23:33: and often repeated. For the reason, see App-23 and App-25....