February 22, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Bigger than Our Cravings

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Spirit of God, fill my praise, guide my thoughts, change my ways.

Read Psalm 106:1-48

[1] Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. [2] Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise? [3] Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right. [4] Remember me, LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, [5] that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise. [6] We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. [7] When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. [8] Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known. [9] He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert. [10] He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them. [11] The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived. [12] Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. [13] But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold. [14] In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test. [15] So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them. [16] In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD. [17] The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram. [18] Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked. [19] At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. [20] They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass. [21] They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, [22] miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. [23] So he said he would destroy them- had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them. [24] Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. [25] They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD. [26] So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the wilderness, [27] make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. [28] They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods; [29] they aroused the LORD’s anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them. [30] But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked. [31] This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come. [32] By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them; [33] for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips. [34] They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, [35] but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. [36] They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. [37] They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods. [38] They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. [39] They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves. [40] Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. [41] He gave them into the hands of the nations, and their foes ruled over them. [42] Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power. [43] Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. [44] Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; [45] for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. [46] He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy. [47] Save us, LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. [48] Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Grace means love to the unlovely and seemingly unlovable. It has the purpose of making the loved one great and glad. Love to this end, gives, never mind the cost, and rescues those in need, never mind the unworthiness” (James I. Packer). This is the nature of our God!

This psalm is a powerful reminder, both of God’s goodness and generosity and of the perversity of human desire. It recites the many reasons why the people of God should be grateful for the mercy and protection God has shown them throughout history, shielding them from harm and enemies (9-12). There were times when the people’s awareness and gratitude erupted into deep trust and praise towards God (12), but also times when the shallowness and instability of their faith becomes all-too-evident as the psalmist offers a multitude of examples of their unfaithfulness and idolatry (16-39).

These reminders strike another chilling note: when we crave something other than God, God takes this seriously. When his people persist, God gives them what they think they want (15,36)–but for the people of Israel the consequences were disastrous. Instead of the freedom they chased after, they found themselves in bondage (41,42). And it is not only the ancient people of God who have experienced this: it is true of others (Rom. 1:21-26), and even of the church today. When anyone or anything takes the place of God in our lives, we are dragged down. Idolatry always has its price.

Yet the ultimate message of the psalm is one of hope and reassurance. God’s kindness and covenantal love is always greater than human sin. He can act on our behalf, even when those oppressing us seem powerful and unassailable (46). God is not a righteous tyrant, but someone who knows and cares for us. When we struggle with the weight of our own mistakes and obsessions, we can be grateful that God knows us better than we know ourselves and will, even yet, draw us into thanksgiving and praise.

Apply

Are there any tensions in your life where your trust in God is overshadowed by your own desires? Ask God to help you face them and get them in perspective.

Closing prayer

Lord God, Your love and kindness is amazing. I bless You for Your love, which can make me good and glad. I give thanks to You Lord, for You are good. Your mercy endures forever.

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