Psalms 141

Psalms 141:1

Rebellion in the Wilderness

Now here is a list of Israel’s sins from their first steps in the wilderness that they had to pass through to get to the promised land. Israel’s sins began back in Egypt. These sins in the wilderness are actually just a continuation of their earlier sins of unbelief. The sins in the wilderness begin with forgetting and impatience (Psalms 106:13). God’s works on their behalf in their redemption from Egypt, their passage through the Red Sea, and the judgment on their enemies were forgotten by them “quickly” or “with haste”. What tragedies follow from this. Let us not judge them harshly. How quickly do we forget all God’s works for our benefit?

When we forget God’s lovingkindness to us, we quickly become impatient and begin to grumble (Philippians 2:14; 1 Peter 4:9). We forget how many times He has already provided and complain about our circumstances. The people began to complain about lack of water and food (Exodus 15:24; Exodus 16:2-3). They did not ask Him about it and could not muster the patience to wait for His counsel. They were not looking to Him, but to what they were lacking. There was lack. That was a reason for them to grumble.

The sins of the people we find each time in duplicate, at the beginning and at the end of the wilderness journey. It is so with the sin of grumbling: read Exodus 15-17 and Numbers 14-17. So is it with water from the rock; so is it with the craving for flesh: read Exodus 16 and Numbers 11. This indicates that these sins are characteristic of the entire wilderness journey. In Exodus 16 it is about lust for flesh, in Numbers 11 also about dissatisfaction with the manna.

When God gives them what they ask for, they are “craved intensely in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:14; Numbers 11:4; 6; 33; Psalms 78:18; 28-29; 1 Corinthians 10:6). With their craving they “tempted God in the desert”. They put Him to the test, whether He was able to give what they wanted. Well, God “gave them their request” (Psalms 106:15; Numbers 11:31-32). Because they kept nagging, God gave what they had asked for. He could have withheld it from them, but He wanted to teach them a lesson. That lesson is that a desire that comes from one’s own will does not lead to health, but to a wasting disease. Unfortunately, the lesson was not learned, for they continued to sin.

The next sin is that of jealousy (Psalms 106:16). It concerns the jealousy of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16:1-3). They became “envious of Moses in the camp” as the leader of the people through whom God spoke to the people. They also became jealous “of Aaron, the holy one of the LORD”, that is, the priest set apart by the LORD for Himself to represent His people to Him.

Instead of the desire to serve, these people longed to take the first place in God’s people, just as Diotrephes wanted in the church (3 John 1:9). The disciples also disputed among them as to “which one of them was regarded to be greatest” (Luke 22:24). Therefore, this is a serious warning to each of us.

The judgment on this jealousy was severely punished by the LORD (Psalms 106:17). For it was a frontal attack on His government of the people. It was a conspiracy against the LORD (Numbers 16:11). Korah and his followers wanted the position of Aaron while Dathan and Abiram wanted the position of Moses.

The punishment was consistent with this. The judgment He executed on Dathan and Abiram – Korah is not mentioned here (cf. Deuteronomy 11:6) – had not been executed before, it was “something new” (Numbers 16:30-33). The punishment of Dathan and Abiram was that they entered the kingdom of the dead alive. The same will happen to the two beasts (Revelation 19:20). The judgment on Korah was fire from heaven, as on Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron (Leviticus 10:1-2).

There was also “a fire” that came from the LORD (Numbers 16:35a), which “blazed up in their company” (Psalms 106:18). The ferocity of the judgment is emphasized by adding that “a flame consumed the wicked”. Thus “two hundred and fifty men” were consumed (Numbers 16:35b). Here we see how horrible sinful, selfish jealousy is to God.

Then the psalmist mentions the sin of idolatry (Psalms 106:19; Deuteronomy 9:7-16). He refers to “a calf in Horeb” which they had made (Exodus 32:1-4). This is a violation of the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6). They “worshiped a molten image”. In doing so, they had particularly grieved God Who had so clearly revealed Himself in His lovingkindness to them.

By this worship of a piece of dead matter they had “exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass” (Psalms 106:20). The addition “that eats grass” makes the absurdity of worshiping the animal all the greater. Their Glory was God Himself (Jeremiah 2:11). How foolish can a man be to exchange Him for a mindless, grass-eating animal!

Paul quotes this verse in Romans 1, for this verse makes it clear what the result is when man exchanges the glory of the imperishable God for something resembling a perishable, transient man or animal. The result is that God gives him over to uncleanness in the lusts of his heart (Romans 1:23-24). If we are not blind, we see it all around us today.

In Exodus 32, the issue is that they have “a feast for the LORD” using an image (Exodus 32:4-5). They believed that they had not forsaken the LORD. They had merely sought a tool of their own choosing to serve the LORD. Something similar is done by Nadab and Abihu later by offering an incense sacrifice with their own fire, something the LORD had not commanded (Leviticus 10:1).

This should also be a warning to us. No, serving another god, that is not what we want. Serving the Lord in our own way, the way we like it, yes, that is what we want. Many Christians seek church services where they feel at home (cf. Judges 17:13). This is always a danger for every believer. We must always remember that we can only worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). This history is a warning against it.

They not only forgot the works of God (Psalms 106:13), but “they forgot God their Savior” Himself (Psalms 106:21). God’s people fell into idolatry with all the debauchery that goes with it because they forgot Him, “Who had done great things in Egypt”. There He proved to be “their Savior”, that is, their Rescuer, their Deliverer, their Keeper.

To save them He had done “wonders in the land of Ham” and “awesome things by the Red Sea” (Psalms 106:22; Deuteronomy 10:21). These things should continue to capture the imagination. What God had done in Egypt and at the Red Sea should have constantly filled them with the utmost confidence in His omnipotence. But they had forgotten Him. This may well speak to our hearts and consciences, that we may never forget what He has done for us in our redemption.

To such forgetfulness among His people and the resulting idolatry, God could not respond other than with the threat to destroy them (Psalms 106:23). He was, to put it humanly, sick of His people. He would have carried out His intention “had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him” (cf. Ezekiel 22:30).

Just as a soldier stands in the breach of a wall to prevent the enemy from passing through with the use of his life, so Moses lay before God to avert God’s wrath. Because of Moses’ passionate pleading, God did not destroy them and they were spared (Deuteronomy 9:25-29).

In this, Moses is a picture of the Lord Jesus, Who is the great Intercessor and Advocate for His people on earth. Only through His intercession with God will a remnant of God’s people cross the finish line and enter the blessing. This applies not only to God’s earthly people, Israel, but also to God’s heavenly people, the church (Romans 8:34).

Psalms 141:2

Rebellion in the Wilderness

Now here is a list of Israel’s sins from their first steps in the wilderness that they had to pass through to get to the promised land. Israel’s sins began back in Egypt. These sins in the wilderness are actually just a continuation of their earlier sins of unbelief. The sins in the wilderness begin with forgetting and impatience (Psalms 106:13). God’s works on their behalf in their redemption from Egypt, their passage through the Red Sea, and the judgment on their enemies were forgotten by them “quickly” or “with haste”. What tragedies follow from this. Let us not judge them harshly. How quickly do we forget all God’s works for our benefit?

When we forget God’s lovingkindness to us, we quickly become impatient and begin to grumble (Philippians 2:14; 1 Peter 4:9). We forget how many times He has already provided and complain about our circumstances. The people began to complain about lack of water and food (Exodus 15:24; Exodus 16:2-3). They did not ask Him about it and could not muster the patience to wait for His counsel. They were not looking to Him, but to what they were lacking. There was lack. That was a reason for them to grumble.

The sins of the people we find each time in duplicate, at the beginning and at the end of the wilderness journey. It is so with the sin of grumbling: read Exodus 15-17 and Numbers 14-17. So is it with water from the rock; so is it with the craving for flesh: read Exodus 16 and Numbers 11. This indicates that these sins are characteristic of the entire wilderness journey. In Exodus 16 it is about lust for flesh, in Numbers 11 also about dissatisfaction with the manna.

When God gives them what they ask for, they are “craved intensely in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:14; Numbers 11:4; 6; 33; Psalms 78:18; 28-29; 1 Corinthians 10:6). With their craving they “tempted God in the desert”. They put Him to the test, whether He was able to give what they wanted. Well, God “gave them their request” (Psalms 106:15; Numbers 11:31-32). Because they kept nagging, God gave what they had asked for. He could have withheld it from them, but He wanted to teach them a lesson. That lesson is that a desire that comes from one’s own will does not lead to health, but to a wasting disease. Unfortunately, the lesson was not learned, for they continued to sin.

The next sin is that of jealousy (Psalms 106:16). It concerns the jealousy of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16:1-3). They became “envious of Moses in the camp” as the leader of the people through whom God spoke to the people. They also became jealous “of Aaron, the holy one of the LORD”, that is, the priest set apart by the LORD for Himself to represent His people to Him.

Instead of the desire to serve, these people longed to take the first place in God’s people, just as Diotrephes wanted in the church (3 John 1:9). The disciples also disputed among them as to “which one of them was regarded to be greatest” (Luke 22:24). Therefore, this is a serious warning to each of us.

The judgment on this jealousy was severely punished by the LORD (Psalms 106:17). For it was a frontal attack on His government of the people. It was a conspiracy against the LORD (Numbers 16:11). Korah and his followers wanted the position of Aaron while Dathan and Abiram wanted the position of Moses.

The punishment was consistent with this. The judgment He executed on Dathan and Abiram – Korah is not mentioned here (cf. Deuteronomy 11:6) – had not been executed before, it was “something new” (Numbers 16:30-33). The punishment of Dathan and Abiram was that they entered the kingdom of the dead alive. The same will happen to the two beasts (Revelation 19:20). The judgment on Korah was fire from heaven, as on Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron (Leviticus 10:1-2).

There was also “a fire” that came from the LORD (Numbers 16:35a), which “blazed up in their company” (Psalms 106:18). The ferocity of the judgment is emphasized by adding that “a flame consumed the wicked”. Thus “two hundred and fifty men” were consumed (Numbers 16:35b). Here we see how horrible sinful, selfish jealousy is to God.

Then the psalmist mentions the sin of idolatry (Psalms 106:19; Deuteronomy 9:7-16). He refers to “a calf in Horeb” which they had made (Exodus 32:1-4). This is a violation of the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6). They “worshiped a molten image”. In doing so, they had particularly grieved God Who had so clearly revealed Himself in His lovingkindness to them.

By this worship of a piece of dead matter they had “exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass” (Psalms 106:20). The addition “that eats grass” makes the absurdity of worshiping the animal all the greater. Their Glory was God Himself (Jeremiah 2:11). How foolish can a man be to exchange Him for a mindless, grass-eating animal!

Paul quotes this verse in Romans 1, for this verse makes it clear what the result is when man exchanges the glory of the imperishable God for something resembling a perishable, transient man or animal. The result is that God gives him over to uncleanness in the lusts of his heart (Romans 1:23-24). If we are not blind, we see it all around us today.

In Exodus 32, the issue is that they have “a feast for the LORD” using an image (Exodus 32:4-5). They believed that they had not forsaken the LORD. They had merely sought a tool of their own choosing to serve the LORD. Something similar is done by Nadab and Abihu later by offering an incense sacrifice with their own fire, something the LORD had not commanded (Leviticus 10:1).

This should also be a warning to us. No, serving another god, that is not what we want. Serving the Lord in our own way, the way we like it, yes, that is what we want. Many Christians seek church services where they feel at home (cf. Judges 17:13). This is always a danger for every believer. We must always remember that we can only worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). This history is a warning against it.

They not only forgot the works of God (Psalms 106:13), but “they forgot God their Savior” Himself (Psalms 106:21). God’s people fell into idolatry with all the debauchery that goes with it because they forgot Him, “Who had done great things in Egypt”. There He proved to be “their Savior”, that is, their Rescuer, their Deliverer, their Keeper.

To save them He had done “wonders in the land of Ham” and “awesome things by the Red Sea” (Psalms 106:22; Deuteronomy 10:21). These things should continue to capture the imagination. What God had done in Egypt and at the Red Sea should have constantly filled them with the utmost confidence in His omnipotence. But they had forgotten Him. This may well speak to our hearts and consciences, that we may never forget what He has done for us in our redemption.

To such forgetfulness among His people and the resulting idolatry, God could not respond other than with the threat to destroy them (Psalms 106:23). He was, to put it humanly, sick of His people. He would have carried out His intention “had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him” (cf. Ezekiel 22:30).

Just as a soldier stands in the breach of a wall to prevent the enemy from passing through with the use of his life, so Moses lay before God to avert God’s wrath. Because of Moses’ passionate pleading, God did not destroy them and they were spared (Deuteronomy 9:25-29).

In this, Moses is a picture of the Lord Jesus, Who is the great Intercessor and Advocate for His people on earth. Only through His intercession with God will a remnant of God’s people cross the finish line and enter the blessing. This applies not only to God’s earthly people, Israel, but also to God’s heavenly people, the church (Romans 8:34).

Psalms 141:3

Rebellion in the Wilderness

Now here is a list of Israel’s sins from their first steps in the wilderness that they had to pass through to get to the promised land. Israel’s sins began back in Egypt. These sins in the wilderness are actually just a continuation of their earlier sins of unbelief. The sins in the wilderness begin with forgetting and impatience (Psalms 106:13). God’s works on their behalf in their redemption from Egypt, their passage through the Red Sea, and the judgment on their enemies were forgotten by them “quickly” or “with haste”. What tragedies follow from this. Let us not judge them harshly. How quickly do we forget all God’s works for our benefit?

When we forget God’s lovingkindness to us, we quickly become impatient and begin to grumble (Philippians 2:14; 1 Peter 4:9). We forget how many times He has already provided and complain about our circumstances. The people began to complain about lack of water and food (Exodus 15:24; Exodus 16:2-3). They did not ask Him about it and could not muster the patience to wait for His counsel. They were not looking to Him, but to what they were lacking. There was lack. That was a reason for them to grumble.

The sins of the people we find each time in duplicate, at the beginning and at the end of the wilderness journey. It is so with the sin of grumbling: read Exodus 15-17 and Numbers 14-17. So is it with water from the rock; so is it with the craving for flesh: read Exodus 16 and Numbers 11. This indicates that these sins are characteristic of the entire wilderness journey. In Exodus 16 it is about lust for flesh, in Numbers 11 also about dissatisfaction with the manna.

When God gives them what they ask for, they are “craved intensely in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:14; Numbers 11:4; 6; 33; Psalms 78:18; 28-29; 1 Corinthians 10:6). With their craving they “tempted God in the desert”. They put Him to the test, whether He was able to give what they wanted. Well, God “gave them their request” (Psalms 106:15; Numbers 11:31-32). Because they kept nagging, God gave what they had asked for. He could have withheld it from them, but He wanted to teach them a lesson. That lesson is that a desire that comes from one’s own will does not lead to health, but to a wasting disease. Unfortunately, the lesson was not learned, for they continued to sin.

The next sin is that of jealousy (Psalms 106:16). It concerns the jealousy of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16:1-3). They became “envious of Moses in the camp” as the leader of the people through whom God spoke to the people. They also became jealous “of Aaron, the holy one of the LORD”, that is, the priest set apart by the LORD for Himself to represent His people to Him.

Instead of the desire to serve, these people longed to take the first place in God’s people, just as Diotrephes wanted in the church (3 John 1:9). The disciples also disputed among them as to “which one of them was regarded to be greatest” (Luke 22:24). Therefore, this is a serious warning to each of us.

The judgment on this jealousy was severely punished by the LORD (Psalms 106:17). For it was a frontal attack on His government of the people. It was a conspiracy against the LORD (Numbers 16:11). Korah and his followers wanted the position of Aaron while Dathan and Abiram wanted the position of Moses.

The punishment was consistent with this. The judgment He executed on Dathan and Abiram – Korah is not mentioned here (cf. Deuteronomy 11:6) – had not been executed before, it was “something new” (Numbers 16:30-33). The punishment of Dathan and Abiram was that they entered the kingdom of the dead alive. The same will happen to the two beasts (Revelation 19:20). The judgment on Korah was fire from heaven, as on Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron (Leviticus 10:1-2).

There was also “a fire” that came from the LORD (Numbers 16:35a), which “blazed up in their company” (Psalms 106:18). The ferocity of the judgment is emphasized by adding that “a flame consumed the wicked”. Thus “two hundred and fifty men” were consumed (Numbers 16:35b). Here we see how horrible sinful, selfish jealousy is to God.

Then the psalmist mentions the sin of idolatry (Psalms 106:19; Deuteronomy 9:7-16). He refers to “a calf in Horeb” which they had made (Exodus 32:1-4). This is a violation of the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6). They “worshiped a molten image”. In doing so, they had particularly grieved God Who had so clearly revealed Himself in His lovingkindness to them.

By this worship of a piece of dead matter they had “exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass” (Psalms 106:20). The addition “that eats grass” makes the absurdity of worshiping the animal all the greater. Their Glory was God Himself (Jeremiah 2:11). How foolish can a man be to exchange Him for a mindless, grass-eating animal!

Paul quotes this verse in Romans 1, for this verse makes it clear what the result is when man exchanges the glory of the imperishable God for something resembling a perishable, transient man or animal. The result is that God gives him over to uncleanness in the lusts of his heart (Romans 1:23-24). If we are not blind, we see it all around us today.

In Exodus 32, the issue is that they have “a feast for the LORD” using an image (Exodus 32:4-5). They believed that they had not forsaken the LORD. They had merely sought a tool of their own choosing to serve the LORD. Something similar is done by Nadab and Abihu later by offering an incense sacrifice with their own fire, something the LORD had not commanded (Leviticus 10:1).

This should also be a warning to us. No, serving another god, that is not what we want. Serving the Lord in our own way, the way we like it, yes, that is what we want. Many Christians seek church services where they feel at home (cf. Judges 17:13). This is always a danger for every believer. We must always remember that we can only worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). This history is a warning against it.

They not only forgot the works of God (Psalms 106:13), but “they forgot God their Savior” Himself (Psalms 106:21). God’s people fell into idolatry with all the debauchery that goes with it because they forgot Him, “Who had done great things in Egypt”. There He proved to be “their Savior”, that is, their Rescuer, their Deliverer, their Keeper.

To save them He had done “wonders in the land of Ham” and “awesome things by the Red Sea” (Psalms 106:22; Deuteronomy 10:21). These things should continue to capture the imagination. What God had done in Egypt and at the Red Sea should have constantly filled them with the utmost confidence in His omnipotence. But they had forgotten Him. This may well speak to our hearts and consciences, that we may never forget what He has done for us in our redemption.

To such forgetfulness among His people and the resulting idolatry, God could not respond other than with the threat to destroy them (Psalms 106:23). He was, to put it humanly, sick of His people. He would have carried out His intention “had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him” (cf. Ezekiel 22:30).

Just as a soldier stands in the breach of a wall to prevent the enemy from passing through with the use of his life, so Moses lay before God to avert God’s wrath. Because of Moses’ passionate pleading, God did not destroy them and they were spared (Deuteronomy 9:25-29).

In this, Moses is a picture of the Lord Jesus, Who is the great Intercessor and Advocate for His people on earth. Only through His intercession with God will a remnant of God’s people cross the finish line and enter the blessing. This applies not only to God’s earthly people, Israel, but also to God’s heavenly people, the church (Romans 8:34).

Psalms 141:4

The Land Despised

The previous sins were in connection with the wilderness; now follow two sins that relate to the promised land. The despising of “the pleasant land” (Psalms 106:24; Jeremiah 3:19; cf. Ezekiel 20:6) occurred after the spies had been there and reported their findings. The cause was unbelief. They believed the report of ten unbelieving spies. They did not believe the word of God, His promise to give them the land, nor what Joshua and Caleb testified (Numbers 14:3-10).

The result of their unbelief was that “they grumbled in their tents” (Psalms 106:25; Numbers 14:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:10). They were dissatisfied with God’s dealings with them. Over this they sat in their tents sulking and grumbling. They doubted God’s love and were disobedient (Deuteronomy 1:26-27). They influenced each other with their discontent, but had no ear for what the LORD had to say: “They did not listen to the voice of the LORD” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:32).

Therefore, He “swore to them”, He swore the solemn oath “that He would cast them down in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:26). None of this grumbling, disobedient generation would enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb would get in (Numbers 14:29-30).

The same would happen to “their seed” (Psalms 106:27) because they revealed the same spirit of grumbling, unbelief and disobedience. God would “scatter them in the lands” (Leviticus 26:33; Ezekiel 20:23). This happened when the Assyrians carried away the ten tribes realm and when the Babylonians carried away the two tribes realm.

Almost forty years later, they found themselves in the plains of Moab, on the border of the promised land. There they joined themselves to the idol Baal-peor, a local Moabite idol (Psalms 106:28; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). Their horrible, adulterous union with the Moabites involved eating “sacrifices offered to the dead”, that is, the sacrifices to the dead idols (Numbers 25:1-2). Possibly they are also sacrifices for consulting the dead (Deuteronomy 18:11). That are also sacrifices that result in the death of the offeror. What a contrast to the living God Who committed Himself to them.

This abominable connection was a thorn in the LORD’s side. “They provoked” Him “to anger with their deeds” (Psalms 106:29). Their deeds were sinful acts, crimes. In doing so, they defied Him. Their defiant attitude and actions toward Him He answered with “the plague”, an epidemic, which “broke out among them” (Numbers 25:1; 9).

Paul refers to this event in his first letter to the Corinthians to warn us not to fall into the same sin (1 Corinthians 10:8; 11). When we fall in love with persons who want nothing to do with God, we commit adultery in a spiritual sense. James does not beat about the bush about it when he clearly states: “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” (James 4:4).

In this case, intercessory prayer by Moses is not the solution to make the plague stop, but the execution of the judgment on evil. That is what Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, did (Psalms 106:30). He killed the Israelite man who had defied God by bringing a Midianite woman into the camp. He also killed the woman. Then the plague stopped (Numbers 25:6-8).

What Phinehas did is an act of righteousness (Psalms 106:31), making atonement for Israel (Numbers 25:13). It is an act of dedication to the LORD, a standing up for His honor, the proof that he was a righteous man. God reckoned that act “for righteousness” to him (cf. James 2:21-25). It is a righteous act that will never be forgotten. In fact, his descendants “to all generations forever” will experience the blessing of it (Numbers 25:10-13).

With a little less than six months to go before Israel would enter the promised land, the people “also provoked [Him] to wrath at the waters of Meribah” [Meribah means strife, quarrel] (Psalms 106:32). The Israelites complained about water as if God were incapable of providing them with water. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock, twice (Numbers 20:8-11).

The striking of the rock was to take place only once (Exodus 17:6). This is a picture of Christ dying under the striking hand of God, which took place only once (Hebrews 9:26-27). Next, Moses was to speak to the rock. The water would then come on the basis of the rock once struck. Similarly, Christ’s suffering and death took place only once, after which we can speak to Christ. This picture is damaged by the disobedience of Moses.

Moses is severely punished by the LORD for his disobedience: he is not allowed to bring the people into the land (Numbers 20:12). The fault lies with the people: “it went hard with Moses on their account”. The side of Moses’ disobedience is not highlighted here. Here it is the side of the people. They made Him very angry.

Time after time they had taunted Moses and time after time he had stood up for them before God. He had become the humblest man on earth in the school of God (Numbers 12:3). A lot had to happen for him to lose his temper. But the people finally caused it. They started arguing with Moses about their lack of water (Numbers 20:2-5). Then Moses’ patience ran out. He became so vexed in his spirit that “he spoke rashly with his lips” and came to a wrong deed (Psalms 106:33; Numbers 20:10-11).

Psalms 141:5

The Land Despised

The previous sins were in connection with the wilderness; now follow two sins that relate to the promised land. The despising of “the pleasant land” (Psalms 106:24; Jeremiah 3:19; cf. Ezekiel 20:6) occurred after the spies had been there and reported their findings. The cause was unbelief. They believed the report of ten unbelieving spies. They did not believe the word of God, His promise to give them the land, nor what Joshua and Caleb testified (Numbers 14:3-10).

The result of their unbelief was that “they grumbled in their tents” (Psalms 106:25; Numbers 14:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:10). They were dissatisfied with God’s dealings with them. Over this they sat in their tents sulking and grumbling. They doubted God’s love and were disobedient (Deuteronomy 1:26-27). They influenced each other with their discontent, but had no ear for what the LORD had to say: “They did not listen to the voice of the LORD” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:32).

Therefore, He “swore to them”, He swore the solemn oath “that He would cast them down in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:26). None of this grumbling, disobedient generation would enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb would get in (Numbers 14:29-30).

The same would happen to “their seed” (Psalms 106:27) because they revealed the same spirit of grumbling, unbelief and disobedience. God would “scatter them in the lands” (Leviticus 26:33; Ezekiel 20:23). This happened when the Assyrians carried away the ten tribes realm and when the Babylonians carried away the two tribes realm.

Almost forty years later, they found themselves in the plains of Moab, on the border of the promised land. There they joined themselves to the idol Baal-peor, a local Moabite idol (Psalms 106:28; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). Their horrible, adulterous union with the Moabites involved eating “sacrifices offered to the dead”, that is, the sacrifices to the dead idols (Numbers 25:1-2). Possibly they are also sacrifices for consulting the dead (Deuteronomy 18:11). That are also sacrifices that result in the death of the offeror. What a contrast to the living God Who committed Himself to them.

This abominable connection was a thorn in the LORD’s side. “They provoked” Him “to anger with their deeds” (Psalms 106:29). Their deeds were sinful acts, crimes. In doing so, they defied Him. Their defiant attitude and actions toward Him He answered with “the plague”, an epidemic, which “broke out among them” (Numbers 25:1; 9).

Paul refers to this event in his first letter to the Corinthians to warn us not to fall into the same sin (1 Corinthians 10:8; 11). When we fall in love with persons who want nothing to do with God, we commit adultery in a spiritual sense. James does not beat about the bush about it when he clearly states: “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” (James 4:4).

In this case, intercessory prayer by Moses is not the solution to make the plague stop, but the execution of the judgment on evil. That is what Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, did (Psalms 106:30). He killed the Israelite man who had defied God by bringing a Midianite woman into the camp. He also killed the woman. Then the plague stopped (Numbers 25:6-8).

What Phinehas did is an act of righteousness (Psalms 106:31), making atonement for Israel (Numbers 25:13). It is an act of dedication to the LORD, a standing up for His honor, the proof that he was a righteous man. God reckoned that act “for righteousness” to him (cf. James 2:21-25). It is a righteous act that will never be forgotten. In fact, his descendants “to all generations forever” will experience the blessing of it (Numbers 25:10-13).

With a little less than six months to go before Israel would enter the promised land, the people “also provoked [Him] to wrath at the waters of Meribah” [Meribah means strife, quarrel] (Psalms 106:32). The Israelites complained about water as if God were incapable of providing them with water. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock, twice (Numbers 20:8-11).

The striking of the rock was to take place only once (Exodus 17:6). This is a picture of Christ dying under the striking hand of God, which took place only once (Hebrews 9:26-27). Next, Moses was to speak to the rock. The water would then come on the basis of the rock once struck. Similarly, Christ’s suffering and death took place only once, after which we can speak to Christ. This picture is damaged by the disobedience of Moses.

Moses is severely punished by the LORD for his disobedience: he is not allowed to bring the people into the land (Numbers 20:12). The fault lies with the people: “it went hard with Moses on their account”. The side of Moses’ disobedience is not highlighted here. Here it is the side of the people. They made Him very angry.

Time after time they had taunted Moses and time after time he had stood up for them before God. He had become the humblest man on earth in the school of God (Numbers 12:3). A lot had to happen for him to lose his temper. But the people finally caused it. They started arguing with Moses about their lack of water (Numbers 20:2-5). Then Moses’ patience ran out. He became so vexed in his spirit that “he spoke rashly with his lips” and came to a wrong deed (Psalms 106:33; Numbers 20:10-11).

Psalms 141:6

The Land Despised

The previous sins were in connection with the wilderness; now follow two sins that relate to the promised land. The despising of “the pleasant land” (Psalms 106:24; Jeremiah 3:19; cf. Ezekiel 20:6) occurred after the spies had been there and reported their findings. The cause was unbelief. They believed the report of ten unbelieving spies. They did not believe the word of God, His promise to give them the land, nor what Joshua and Caleb testified (Numbers 14:3-10).

The result of their unbelief was that “they grumbled in their tents” (Psalms 106:25; Numbers 14:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:10). They were dissatisfied with God’s dealings with them. Over this they sat in their tents sulking and grumbling. They doubted God’s love and were disobedient (Deuteronomy 1:26-27). They influenced each other with their discontent, but had no ear for what the LORD had to say: “They did not listen to the voice of the LORD” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:32).

Therefore, He “swore to them”, He swore the solemn oath “that He would cast them down in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:26). None of this grumbling, disobedient generation would enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb would get in (Numbers 14:29-30).

The same would happen to “their seed” (Psalms 106:27) because they revealed the same spirit of grumbling, unbelief and disobedience. God would “scatter them in the lands” (Leviticus 26:33; Ezekiel 20:23). This happened when the Assyrians carried away the ten tribes realm and when the Babylonians carried away the two tribes realm.

Almost forty years later, they found themselves in the plains of Moab, on the border of the promised land. There they joined themselves to the idol Baal-peor, a local Moabite idol (Psalms 106:28; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). Their horrible, adulterous union with the Moabites involved eating “sacrifices offered to the dead”, that is, the sacrifices to the dead idols (Numbers 25:1-2). Possibly they are also sacrifices for consulting the dead (Deuteronomy 18:11). That are also sacrifices that result in the death of the offeror. What a contrast to the living God Who committed Himself to them.

This abominable connection was a thorn in the LORD’s side. “They provoked” Him “to anger with their deeds” (Psalms 106:29). Their deeds were sinful acts, crimes. In doing so, they defied Him. Their defiant attitude and actions toward Him He answered with “the plague”, an epidemic, which “broke out among them” (Numbers 25:1; 9).

Paul refers to this event in his first letter to the Corinthians to warn us not to fall into the same sin (1 Corinthians 10:8; 11). When we fall in love with persons who want nothing to do with God, we commit adultery in a spiritual sense. James does not beat about the bush about it when he clearly states: “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” (James 4:4).

In this case, intercessory prayer by Moses is not the solution to make the plague stop, but the execution of the judgment on evil. That is what Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, did (Psalms 106:30). He killed the Israelite man who had defied God by bringing a Midianite woman into the camp. He also killed the woman. Then the plague stopped (Numbers 25:6-8).

What Phinehas did is an act of righteousness (Psalms 106:31), making atonement for Israel (Numbers 25:13). It is an act of dedication to the LORD, a standing up for His honor, the proof that he was a righteous man. God reckoned that act “for righteousness” to him (cf. James 2:21-25). It is a righteous act that will never be forgotten. In fact, his descendants “to all generations forever” will experience the blessing of it (Numbers 25:10-13).

With a little less than six months to go before Israel would enter the promised land, the people “also provoked [Him] to wrath at the waters of Meribah” [Meribah means strife, quarrel] (Psalms 106:32). The Israelites complained about water as if God were incapable of providing them with water. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock, twice (Numbers 20:8-11).

The striking of the rock was to take place only once (Exodus 17:6). This is a picture of Christ dying under the striking hand of God, which took place only once (Hebrews 9:26-27). Next, Moses was to speak to the rock. The water would then come on the basis of the rock once struck. Similarly, Christ’s suffering and death took place only once, after which we can speak to Christ. This picture is damaged by the disobedience of Moses.

Moses is severely punished by the LORD for his disobedience: he is not allowed to bring the people into the land (Numbers 20:12). The fault lies with the people: “it went hard with Moses on their account”. The side of Moses’ disobedience is not highlighted here. Here it is the side of the people. They made Him very angry.

Time after time they had taunted Moses and time after time he had stood up for them before God. He had become the humblest man on earth in the school of God (Numbers 12:3). A lot had to happen for him to lose his temper. But the people finally caused it. They started arguing with Moses about their lack of water (Numbers 20:2-5). Then Moses’ patience ran out. He became so vexed in his spirit that “he spoke rashly with his lips” and came to a wrong deed (Psalms 106:33; Numbers 20:10-11).

Psalms 141:7

The Land Despised

The previous sins were in connection with the wilderness; now follow two sins that relate to the promised land. The despising of “the pleasant land” (Psalms 106:24; Jeremiah 3:19; cf. Ezekiel 20:6) occurred after the spies had been there and reported their findings. The cause was unbelief. They believed the report of ten unbelieving spies. They did not believe the word of God, His promise to give them the land, nor what Joshua and Caleb testified (Numbers 14:3-10).

The result of their unbelief was that “they grumbled in their tents” (Psalms 106:25; Numbers 14:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:10). They were dissatisfied with God’s dealings with them. Over this they sat in their tents sulking and grumbling. They doubted God’s love and were disobedient (Deuteronomy 1:26-27). They influenced each other with their discontent, but had no ear for what the LORD had to say: “They did not listen to the voice of the LORD” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:32).

Therefore, He “swore to them”, He swore the solemn oath “that He would cast them down in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:26). None of this grumbling, disobedient generation would enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb would get in (Numbers 14:29-30).

The same would happen to “their seed” (Psalms 106:27) because they revealed the same spirit of grumbling, unbelief and disobedience. God would “scatter them in the lands” (Leviticus 26:33; Ezekiel 20:23). This happened when the Assyrians carried away the ten tribes realm and when the Babylonians carried away the two tribes realm.

Almost forty years later, they found themselves in the plains of Moab, on the border of the promised land. There they joined themselves to the idol Baal-peor, a local Moabite idol (Psalms 106:28; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). Their horrible, adulterous union with the Moabites involved eating “sacrifices offered to the dead”, that is, the sacrifices to the dead idols (Numbers 25:1-2). Possibly they are also sacrifices for consulting the dead (Deuteronomy 18:11). That are also sacrifices that result in the death of the offeror. What a contrast to the living God Who committed Himself to them.

This abominable connection was a thorn in the LORD’s side. “They provoked” Him “to anger with their deeds” (Psalms 106:29). Their deeds were sinful acts, crimes. In doing so, they defied Him. Their defiant attitude and actions toward Him He answered with “the plague”, an epidemic, which “broke out among them” (Numbers 25:1; 9).

Paul refers to this event in his first letter to the Corinthians to warn us not to fall into the same sin (1 Corinthians 10:8; 11). When we fall in love with persons who want nothing to do with God, we commit adultery in a spiritual sense. James does not beat about the bush about it when he clearly states: “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” (James 4:4).

In this case, intercessory prayer by Moses is not the solution to make the plague stop, but the execution of the judgment on evil. That is what Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, did (Psalms 106:30). He killed the Israelite man who had defied God by bringing a Midianite woman into the camp. He also killed the woman. Then the plague stopped (Numbers 25:6-8).

What Phinehas did is an act of righteousness (Psalms 106:31), making atonement for Israel (Numbers 25:13). It is an act of dedication to the LORD, a standing up for His honor, the proof that he was a righteous man. God reckoned that act “for righteousness” to him (cf. James 2:21-25). It is a righteous act that will never be forgotten. In fact, his descendants “to all generations forever” will experience the blessing of it (Numbers 25:10-13).

With a little less than six months to go before Israel would enter the promised land, the people “also provoked [Him] to wrath at the waters of Meribah” [Meribah means strife, quarrel] (Psalms 106:32). The Israelites complained about water as if God were incapable of providing them with water. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock, twice (Numbers 20:8-11).

The striking of the rock was to take place only once (Exodus 17:6). This is a picture of Christ dying under the striking hand of God, which took place only once (Hebrews 9:26-27). Next, Moses was to speak to the rock. The water would then come on the basis of the rock once struck. Similarly, Christ’s suffering and death took place only once, after which we can speak to Christ. This picture is damaged by the disobedience of Moses.

Moses is severely punished by the LORD for his disobedience: he is not allowed to bring the people into the land (Numbers 20:12). The fault lies with the people: “it went hard with Moses on their account”. The side of Moses’ disobedience is not highlighted here. Here it is the side of the people. They made Him very angry.

Time after time they had taunted Moses and time after time he had stood up for them before God. He had become the humblest man on earth in the school of God (Numbers 12:3). A lot had to happen for him to lose his temper. But the people finally caused it. They started arguing with Moses about their lack of water (Numbers 20:2-5). Then Moses’ patience ran out. He became so vexed in his spirit that “he spoke rashly with his lips” and came to a wrong deed (Psalms 106:33; Numbers 20:10-11).

Psalms 141:8

The Land Despised

The previous sins were in connection with the wilderness; now follow two sins that relate to the promised land. The despising of “the pleasant land” (Psalms 106:24; Jeremiah 3:19; cf. Ezekiel 20:6) occurred after the spies had been there and reported their findings. The cause was unbelief. They believed the report of ten unbelieving spies. They did not believe the word of God, His promise to give them the land, nor what Joshua and Caleb testified (Numbers 14:3-10).

The result of their unbelief was that “they grumbled in their tents” (Psalms 106:25; Numbers 14:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:10). They were dissatisfied with God’s dealings with them. Over this they sat in their tents sulking and grumbling. They doubted God’s love and were disobedient (Deuteronomy 1:26-27). They influenced each other with their discontent, but had no ear for what the LORD had to say: “They did not listen to the voice of the LORD” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:32).

Therefore, He “swore to them”, He swore the solemn oath “that He would cast them down in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:26). None of this grumbling, disobedient generation would enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb would get in (Numbers 14:29-30).

The same would happen to “their seed” (Psalms 106:27) because they revealed the same spirit of grumbling, unbelief and disobedience. God would “scatter them in the lands” (Leviticus 26:33; Ezekiel 20:23). This happened when the Assyrians carried away the ten tribes realm and when the Babylonians carried away the two tribes realm.

Almost forty years later, they found themselves in the plains of Moab, on the border of the promised land. There they joined themselves to the idol Baal-peor, a local Moabite idol (Psalms 106:28; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). Their horrible, adulterous union with the Moabites involved eating “sacrifices offered to the dead”, that is, the sacrifices to the dead idols (Numbers 25:1-2). Possibly they are also sacrifices for consulting the dead (Deuteronomy 18:11). That are also sacrifices that result in the death of the offeror. What a contrast to the living God Who committed Himself to them.

This abominable connection was a thorn in the LORD’s side. “They provoked” Him “to anger with their deeds” (Psalms 106:29). Their deeds were sinful acts, crimes. In doing so, they defied Him. Their defiant attitude and actions toward Him He answered with “the plague”, an epidemic, which “broke out among them” (Numbers 25:1; 9).

Paul refers to this event in his first letter to the Corinthians to warn us not to fall into the same sin (1 Corinthians 10:8; 11). When we fall in love with persons who want nothing to do with God, we commit adultery in a spiritual sense. James does not beat about the bush about it when he clearly states: “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” (James 4:4).

In this case, intercessory prayer by Moses is not the solution to make the plague stop, but the execution of the judgment on evil. That is what Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, did (Psalms 106:30). He killed the Israelite man who had defied God by bringing a Midianite woman into the camp. He also killed the woman. Then the plague stopped (Numbers 25:6-8).

What Phinehas did is an act of righteousness (Psalms 106:31), making atonement for Israel (Numbers 25:13). It is an act of dedication to the LORD, a standing up for His honor, the proof that he was a righteous man. God reckoned that act “for righteousness” to him (cf. James 2:21-25). It is a righteous act that will never be forgotten. In fact, his descendants “to all generations forever” will experience the blessing of it (Numbers 25:10-13).

With a little less than six months to go before Israel would enter the promised land, the people “also provoked [Him] to wrath at the waters of Meribah” [Meribah means strife, quarrel] (Psalms 106:32). The Israelites complained about water as if God were incapable of providing them with water. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock, twice (Numbers 20:8-11).

The striking of the rock was to take place only once (Exodus 17:6). This is a picture of Christ dying under the striking hand of God, which took place only once (Hebrews 9:26-27). Next, Moses was to speak to the rock. The water would then come on the basis of the rock once struck. Similarly, Christ’s suffering and death took place only once, after which we can speak to Christ. This picture is damaged by the disobedience of Moses.

Moses is severely punished by the LORD for his disobedience: he is not allowed to bring the people into the land (Numbers 20:12). The fault lies with the people: “it went hard with Moses on their account”. The side of Moses’ disobedience is not highlighted here. Here it is the side of the people. They made Him very angry.

Time after time they had taunted Moses and time after time he had stood up for them before God. He had become the humblest man on earth in the school of God (Numbers 12:3). A lot had to happen for him to lose his temper. But the people finally caused it. They started arguing with Moses about their lack of water (Numbers 20:2-5). Then Moses’ patience ran out. He became so vexed in his spirit that “he spoke rashly with his lips” and came to a wrong deed (Psalms 106:33; Numbers 20:10-11).

Psalms 141:9

The Land Despised

The previous sins were in connection with the wilderness; now follow two sins that relate to the promised land. The despising of “the pleasant land” (Psalms 106:24; Jeremiah 3:19; cf. Ezekiel 20:6) occurred after the spies had been there and reported their findings. The cause was unbelief. They believed the report of ten unbelieving spies. They did not believe the word of God, His promise to give them the land, nor what Joshua and Caleb testified (Numbers 14:3-10).

The result of their unbelief was that “they grumbled in their tents” (Psalms 106:25; Numbers 14:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:10). They were dissatisfied with God’s dealings with them. Over this they sat in their tents sulking and grumbling. They doubted God’s love and were disobedient (Deuteronomy 1:26-27). They influenced each other with their discontent, but had no ear for what the LORD had to say: “They did not listen to the voice of the LORD” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:32).

Therefore, He “swore to them”, He swore the solemn oath “that He would cast them down in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:26). None of this grumbling, disobedient generation would enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb would get in (Numbers 14:29-30).

The same would happen to “their seed” (Psalms 106:27) because they revealed the same spirit of grumbling, unbelief and disobedience. God would “scatter them in the lands” (Leviticus 26:33; Ezekiel 20:23). This happened when the Assyrians carried away the ten tribes realm and when the Babylonians carried away the two tribes realm.

Almost forty years later, they found themselves in the plains of Moab, on the border of the promised land. There they joined themselves to the idol Baal-peor, a local Moabite idol (Psalms 106:28; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). Their horrible, adulterous union with the Moabites involved eating “sacrifices offered to the dead”, that is, the sacrifices to the dead idols (Numbers 25:1-2). Possibly they are also sacrifices for consulting the dead (Deuteronomy 18:11). That are also sacrifices that result in the death of the offeror. What a contrast to the living God Who committed Himself to them.

This abominable connection was a thorn in the LORD’s side. “They provoked” Him “to anger with their deeds” (Psalms 106:29). Their deeds were sinful acts, crimes. In doing so, they defied Him. Their defiant attitude and actions toward Him He answered with “the plague”, an epidemic, which “broke out among them” (Numbers 25:1; 9).

Paul refers to this event in his first letter to the Corinthians to warn us not to fall into the same sin (1 Corinthians 10:8; 11). When we fall in love with persons who want nothing to do with God, we commit adultery in a spiritual sense. James does not beat about the bush about it when he clearly states: “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” (James 4:4).

In this case, intercessory prayer by Moses is not the solution to make the plague stop, but the execution of the judgment on evil. That is what Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, did (Psalms 106:30). He killed the Israelite man who had defied God by bringing a Midianite woman into the camp. He also killed the woman. Then the plague stopped (Numbers 25:6-8).

What Phinehas did is an act of righteousness (Psalms 106:31), making atonement for Israel (Numbers 25:13). It is an act of dedication to the LORD, a standing up for His honor, the proof that he was a righteous man. God reckoned that act “for righteousness” to him (cf. James 2:21-25). It is a righteous act that will never be forgotten. In fact, his descendants “to all generations forever” will experience the blessing of it (Numbers 25:10-13).

With a little less than six months to go before Israel would enter the promised land, the people “also provoked [Him] to wrath at the waters of Meribah” [Meribah means strife, quarrel] (Psalms 106:32). The Israelites complained about water as if God were incapable of providing them with water. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock, twice (Numbers 20:8-11).

The striking of the rock was to take place only once (Exodus 17:6). This is a picture of Christ dying under the striking hand of God, which took place only once (Hebrews 9:26-27). Next, Moses was to speak to the rock. The water would then come on the basis of the rock once struck. Similarly, Christ’s suffering and death took place only once, after which we can speak to Christ. This picture is damaged by the disobedience of Moses.

Moses is severely punished by the LORD for his disobedience: he is not allowed to bring the people into the land (Numbers 20:12). The fault lies with the people: “it went hard with Moses on their account”. The side of Moses’ disobedience is not highlighted here. Here it is the side of the people. They made Him very angry.

Time after time they had taunted Moses and time after time he had stood up for them before God. He had become the humblest man on earth in the school of God (Numbers 12:3). A lot had to happen for him to lose his temper. But the people finally caused it. They started arguing with Moses about their lack of water (Numbers 20:2-5). Then Moses’ patience ran out. He became so vexed in his spirit that “he spoke rashly with his lips” and came to a wrong deed (Psalms 106:33; Numbers 20:10-11).

Psalms 141:10

The Land Despised

The previous sins were in connection with the wilderness; now follow two sins that relate to the promised land. The despising of “the pleasant land” (Psalms 106:24; Jeremiah 3:19; cf. Ezekiel 20:6) occurred after the spies had been there and reported their findings. The cause was unbelief. They believed the report of ten unbelieving spies. They did not believe the word of God, His promise to give them the land, nor what Joshua and Caleb testified (Numbers 14:3-10).

The result of their unbelief was that “they grumbled in their tents” (Psalms 106:25; Numbers 14:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:10). They were dissatisfied with God’s dealings with them. Over this they sat in their tents sulking and grumbling. They doubted God’s love and were disobedient (Deuteronomy 1:26-27). They influenced each other with their discontent, but had no ear for what the LORD had to say: “They did not listen to the voice of the LORD” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:32).

Therefore, He “swore to them”, He swore the solemn oath “that He would cast them down in the wilderness” (Psalms 106:26). None of this grumbling, disobedient generation would enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb would get in (Numbers 14:29-30).

The same would happen to “their seed” (Psalms 106:27) because they revealed the same spirit of grumbling, unbelief and disobedience. God would “scatter them in the lands” (Leviticus 26:33; Ezekiel 20:23). This happened when the Assyrians carried away the ten tribes realm and when the Babylonians carried away the two tribes realm.

Almost forty years later, they found themselves in the plains of Moab, on the border of the promised land. There they joined themselves to the idol Baal-peor, a local Moabite idol (Psalms 106:28; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). Their horrible, adulterous union with the Moabites involved eating “sacrifices offered to the dead”, that is, the sacrifices to the dead idols (Numbers 25:1-2). Possibly they are also sacrifices for consulting the dead (Deuteronomy 18:11). That are also sacrifices that result in the death of the offeror. What a contrast to the living God Who committed Himself to them.

This abominable connection was a thorn in the LORD’s side. “They provoked” Him “to anger with their deeds” (Psalms 106:29). Their deeds were sinful acts, crimes. In doing so, they defied Him. Their defiant attitude and actions toward Him He answered with “the plague”, an epidemic, which “broke out among them” (Numbers 25:1; 9).

Paul refers to this event in his first letter to the Corinthians to warn us not to fall into the same sin (1 Corinthians 10:8; 11). When we fall in love with persons who want nothing to do with God, we commit adultery in a spiritual sense. James does not beat about the bush about it when he clearly states: “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” (James 4:4).

In this case, intercessory prayer by Moses is not the solution to make the plague stop, but the execution of the judgment on evil. That is what Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, did (Psalms 106:30). He killed the Israelite man who had defied God by bringing a Midianite woman into the camp. He also killed the woman. Then the plague stopped (Numbers 25:6-8).

What Phinehas did is an act of righteousness (Psalms 106:31), making atonement for Israel (Numbers 25:13). It is an act of dedication to the LORD, a standing up for His honor, the proof that he was a righteous man. God reckoned that act “for righteousness” to him (cf. James 2:21-25). It is a righteous act that will never be forgotten. In fact, his descendants “to all generations forever” will experience the blessing of it (Numbers 25:10-13).

With a little less than six months to go before Israel would enter the promised land, the people “also provoked [Him] to wrath at the waters of Meribah” [Meribah means strife, quarrel] (Psalms 106:32). The Israelites complained about water as if God were incapable of providing them with water. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock, twice (Numbers 20:8-11).

The striking of the rock was to take place only once (Exodus 17:6). This is a picture of Christ dying under the striking hand of God, which took place only once (Hebrews 9:26-27). Next, Moses was to speak to the rock. The water would then come on the basis of the rock once struck. Similarly, Christ’s suffering and death took place only once, after which we can speak to Christ. This picture is damaged by the disobedience of Moses.

Moses is severely punished by the LORD for his disobedience: he is not allowed to bring the people into the land (Numbers 20:12). The fault lies with the people: “it went hard with Moses on their account”. The side of Moses’ disobedience is not highlighted here. Here it is the side of the people. They made Him very angry.

Time after time they had taunted Moses and time after time he had stood up for them before God. He had become the humblest man on earth in the school of God (Numbers 12:3). A lot had to happen for him to lose his temper. But the people finally caused it. They started arguing with Moses about their lack of water (Numbers 20:2-5). Then Moses’ patience ran out. He became so vexed in his spirit that “he spoke rashly with his lips” and came to a wrong deed (Psalms 106:33; Numbers 20:10-11).