Psalm 106 is the one appointed for this morning, a long account of Israel's sins from the Exodus through the period of the Judges (around 1280-1000 BCE). The psalm dates from the Babylonian captivity around 587 BCE.
Beginning with a big Hallelujah (vv. 1-5) the psalmists declare, "We have sinned as our forebears did..." The next many verses relate the murmuring, idolatry, failures to remember God's miracles (vv. 13, 21), and provocations of Moses (vv. 19-33) that accompanied the deliverance of Hebrew slaves to freedom.
The people so blessed kept up their sinning even in the promised land, practicing infant sacrifice (vv. 37-38) and intermingling with heathen (v. 35). God punished and then delivered them many a time. "He remembered his covenant with them and relented in accordance with his great mercy" (v. 45).
How could God put up with such rebellious and disobedient people? Because he really. Truly. Loved them.
And now the psalmists pray from Babylon, "Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations" (v. 47)
And so pray we too, from the American Empire: Save us, Lord, from our murmuring, idolatries, and failures to remember. Save us from our participation in the sins of the culture that provoke You beyond our understanding. Save us that we may glory in your praise (v. 47).
"And let all the people say, 'Amen'!" (v. 48)
Hallelujah
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