Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 106:21
They forgot God their savior, which had done great things in Egypt;
21, 22. These verses emphasise the ingratitude of the Israelites. The land of Ham as in Psa 105:23; Psa 105:27 from Psa 78:51.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They forgat God their Saviour … – The God who had saved, or delivered them, out of Egypt. The sentiment here is the same as in Psa 78:11-12. See the notes at that place.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
They forgat God their Saviour,…. Not only forgat the works of God, Ps 106:13, but forgat God that did those mighty works; forgat that there was a God; or however forgat him that is the only true and living God, when they said of the molten image, “these are thy gods, O Israel”; and what aggravated their crime was, they forgot that God that had saved them in so wonderful a manner out of the hand of their enemies, for his own name’s sake; and had led them safely through the Red sea as on dry land, and destroyed those that hated them.
Which had done great things in Egypt: meaning the ten plagues on the Egyptians, and the deliverance of the Israelites from them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
21. They forgot God The prophet again repeats that the people had sinned not simply through ignorance, but also wilfully, inasmuch as God had already given a very palpable manifestation of his power and glory. And as he makes himself known in the creation of the heavens and of the earth, the blindness of men is totally inexcusable. But far more aggravating is the sin of the children of Israel, who, after God had made himself known to them, in the most condescending manner, cast him off altogether, and gave themselves up to the practice of brutish idolatry. And God having from heaven put forth his Almighty power for their salvation, there must surely be no little importance attached to such displays of his power as proclaim the praise and honor of his great name. Had he merely given an ordinary token of his power, even that ought to have attracted so much consideration as should have kept the people in the fear and worship of God. Now, that these miracles were so very notable, or rather terrible and rare, the people acted a very base part to shut their eyes upon them, and give themselves over to idolatry. For as the darkness is dispelled by the beamy lustre of the sun, so all inventions and perverse errors should vanish before such knowledge of God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(21) Forgot God their saviour.With evident allusion to Deu. 6:12.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. They forgat God This was the source of all their sin. See Psa 78:11. The original passage is Deu 32:18
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 678
THE EVIL AND DANGER OF INGRATITUDE
Psa 106:21-23. They forgat God their Saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea. Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
THERE is scarcely any sin more strongly reprobated in the Scripture than ingratitude. In the catalogue which the Apostle gives us of the crimes committed by the heathen world, unthankfulness to God is particularly specified as one of the most heinous and inexcusable [Note: Rom 1:21.]. And the judgments denounced against one of the most eminent saints for a single instance of it, indisputably prove, how hateful it must be in the sight of God [Note: 2Ch 32:25.]. In improving the instance recorded in the text, we shall,
I.
Consider the history referred to
[The history to which our text alludes is so well known, as not to need many words either to record or explain it. There were mercies vouchsafed to the Israelites in Egypt, such as never had been experienced before from the foundation of the world But they presently forgat their almighty Deliverer, and worshipped a golden calf in his stead. This justly excited the indignation of God, and determined him to destroy them. But Moses, having already fasted forty days and nights, fell down before God, and, during forty more days and nights, neither ate nor drank, but interceded on behalf of this rebellious people. God in answer to his intercession averted the stroke, and forbore to punish them according to their deserts [Note: Exo 32:8-14.].]
II.
Apply it to existing circumstances
[We need not recall to your minds what great things God has lately done for us also in Egypt [Note: This was the first fast-day after Lord Nelsons victory near the Nile, 1800.]. Except in the history of the Jewish nation, there is scarcely any victory recorded in the annals of the world that was more glorious or complete than that vouchsafed to us. Yet how have we requited the Lord? At first, like the Jews, we were willing to give God the glory, and to sing his praise: but has not the impression worn off? and have we not shamefully forgotten our Benefactor? Well might Gods anger wax hot against us, to consume us for such ingratitude Nor can we ascribe it to any thing but the intercessions of Gods people that his wrath has not burst forth against us, as against Korah and his company, to destroy us utterly.]
III.
Deduce from it some suitable observations
Observe,
1.
The duty of secret intercession
[We are commanded to pray for all men, and especially for kings and all that are in authority. Yea, even in Babylon, were the Jews taught to pray for the peace and prosperity of their very oppressors: how much more then should we intercede for our native country, where we enjoy every liberty that we can desire! Let it not be said, that our governors do not deserve our prayers; for the injunction to pray for kings was delivered in the reign of Nero, than whom a more wicked prince could not exist. Let us then make a conscience of this duty; for if we know not to intercede for others, we have no reason to think that we have ever yet seen aright the value of our own souls.]
2.
The benefit of public fasts
[The honour God has put upon public fasts is well known to all; and his answers to united supplications have been as signal as the hand of God could make them. The victory given to Jehoshaphat [Note: 2Ch 20:12; 2Ch 20:15.], the respite to Nineveh [Note: Jon 3:10.], and the deliverance to Peter the very day before his intended destruction [Note: Act 12:5-8.], sufficiently evince, that God will hear the united prayers of his people. Indeed, if one man, Moses, so prevailed for the saving of a whole nation, what deliverance should not nations receive, if they would all unite in prayer! If a few individuals alone mourn for the land, they shall have at least some tokens of peculiar favour to themselves, though they should not succeed in averting Gods anger from the nation at large [Note: Eze 9:4; Eze 9:6. Zep 3:18.]. But if there be not some to stand in the breach; it cannot fail but that we must be overwhelmed [Note: Eze 21:31-32. Amo 6:1; Amo 6:6.].]
3.
The guilt and danger of neglecting Christ
[Great as were the mercies vouchsafed to the Jews in Egypt, they are not to be compared with the redemption which we have experienced through Christ: as our bondage was infinitely more grievous, so the means used to effect our deliverance, infinitely enhance the value of the deliverance itself; we are bought with blood, and that blood was the blood of our incarnate God What destruction then must not we expect if we should forget God our Saviour [Note: Heb 2:3.]? Nor is it the intercession of others that shall ever prevail to avert it from us; we must pray, every one of us for himself: not but that mutual intercession may in this respect be productive of great benefits. Let us then bear his great goodness in remembrance, and let it be our song in time, as it shall be through all eternity.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 106:21 They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
Ver. 21. They forgat God their saviour ] This is often mentioned as the mother of all the misrule among them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
forgat: Psa 106:13, Psa 78:11, Psa 78:12, Psa 78:42-51, Deu 32:17, Deu 32:18, Jer 2:32
God: Isa 12:2, Isa 45:21, Isa 63:8, Hos 1:7, Luk 1:47, Tit 1:3, Tit 2:10, Tit 3:4-6
which: Psa 74:13, Psa 74:14, Psa 135:9, Deu 4:34, Deu 6:22, Deu 7:18, Deu 7:19, Neh 9:10, Neh 9:11
Reciprocal: Num 20:4 – why Deu 8:11 – General Deu 8:14 – thou forget Deu 10:21 – that hath Jdg 8:34 – remembered 1Sa 12:9 – forgat Psa 78:35 – remembered Psa 103:2 – forget not Isa 17:10 – thou hast Jer 13:25 – because Eze 22:12 – and hast Hos 2:13 – forgat Hos 8:14 – forgotten Mar 9:19 – O faithless Joh 20:25 – Except 1Ti 1:1 – God Heb 11:6 – without