Main Thought:
This psalm recounts many of the times when the Israelites were faithless. In each case the Lord delivered them. Particularly note the intervening role of Phineas, grandson of Aaron, whose faithfulness turned away God’s wrath. (cf. Numbers 25)
Psalm 106:24-33
Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the Lord.
Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.
Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them.
Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stayed.
And that was counted to him as righteousness
from generation to generation forever.
They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account,
for they made his spirit bitter,
and he spoke rashly with his lips.
Prayer
Lord God, Whose gift of pleasant land and all blessings of body and soul we have received, look not with anger on us on account of our ingratitude and faithlessness. Rather count to us the righteousness of Your Son whose death has atoned for the sin of the world and won salvation for us that we might live with You eternally in the joys of the promised Heaven. Amen.