Psalm 106 (105):10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Even if such a custom existed uniformly, it shouldn’t overshadow the long-standing tradition. It is feasible that all references to God's praise could point to the overall collection of psalms—considered as five books—concluded by this final Hallelujah after all been sung. Since the 105th psalm begins alike its precursor with "Give thanks to the Lord," the subsequent lines differ: one reads, "And call upon His Name," while here we have, "For He is good; His mercy endures forever" (Psalm 105:1). This indicates a confession of sins; shortly after, it states, "We have sinned with our fathers," acknowledging wrongdoing. The phrase, "For He is good; His mercy endures forever," emphasizes God's glory and our acknowledgment of sin. When one confesses sin, it must be accompanied by praise, as true confession can only occur in the light of hope and God's mercy. This remark encompasses the notion of divine goodwill, suggesting it is essential for happiness; hence this mercy is understood as eternal because it meets the needs of the afflicted, providing comfort amidst suffering.

"Who can declare the mighty acts of the Lord?" (Psalm 104:2). So much contemplation on God’s works is required, urging to plead for His favor; one wonders, who can truly convey all His praises? It is implied that even an individual might only highlight portions of His glory, indicating the need for proclaiming these mighty acts to the hearers. It raises a significant inquiry: could it be those who uphold His laws and perform righteousness are highlighted? As affirmed by the apostle, God acts within us (Philippians 2:13).

The continuity of the terms justice and righteousness suggests there may be a nuanced distinction between them. The Scriptures cleverly pair these terms together, signifying a possible interchangeability depending on the context. Clarifying this indicates that those who uphold righteous judgment maintain fairness, while those who act righteously fulfill their obligations. The phrase "Until righteousness returns to judgment" can be interpreted as a call to those who preserve faith and execute righteousness through deeds.

Following, as God justifies, making the unjust righteous through the removal of sin, the prayer continues: "Remember me, O Lord, according to the favor You show to Your people" (Psalm 104:4). This request highlights the desire to be counted among the favored since not all are pleasing to God. "Oh, visit us with Your salvation." This alludes to Christ Himself, through whom sins are pardoned and souls restored, enabling them to walk in righteousness. As they recognize the blessedness of those whom He has chosen, they seek His salvation to rejoice with His people (Psalm 104:5). Some translations replace "blessedness" with "sweetness," aligning with other instances where God’s goodness is highlighted. To plead for this insight indicates a longing to perceive the richness offered to the elect, contrasting those who dismiss the divine favor yet believe themselves to see (John 9:41).

Allow us to reflect on their admission: "We have sinned with our fathers; we have acted wickedly" (Psalm 104:6). The acknowledgment of the ancestors' experiences in Egypt serves as a mirror to their faults, highlighting a collective failure to recognize God's miracles. The term “our fathers” suggests a shared guilt—imitating their sins rather than genuinely repenting. It speaks to a failure to grasp the implications of divine miracles meant to lead to eternal blessings—his miraculous acts missed the call to deeper spiritual truths. Thus, their impatience led to lost hopes, as they overlooked the permanence of God’s goodness through their wavering faith.

The narrative recalls God's intervention against the sea, referencing His unspoken power through the command that dry land emerged. "He saved them from their enemies" (Psalm 104:10) could also symbolize salvation through Christ, foretelling a redemptive act at a significant cost—His own blood. The drowning is described as capturing the pursuers, reinforcing the victory over those who sought harm.

In the face of these wonders, "Then they believed His words" (Psalm 104:12). This trust arose not from mere acknowledgment but flowed into praise evidenced in their song of triumph (Exodus 15:1). Yet, their hurriedness leads to forgetfulness, as "They acted in haste and forgot His deeds" (Psalm 105:13). Their impatience clouds the understanding that God’s miracles were invitations to trust and await greater joys beyond immediate satisfaction.

The psalm reflects on their desires: "They craved in the wilderness and tested God in a parched land" (Psalm 105:14). This speaks to their visible dissatisfaction in spite of God's provisions, indicating a lapse into complaint. While God fulfilled their cravings, it was a bodily fulfillment, contrasting with the deeper righteousness that truly satisfies (Matthew 5:6).

Moreover, "They provoked Moses in the tents" (Psalm 104:16) clearly establishes the anger invoked through discontent. Their rebellion led to dire consequences, as "The earth opened and swallowed Dathan" (Psalm 105:17). This illustrates the severity of their dissent, with stark imagery representative of God’s just hand of correction.

Fire ignited among their ranks, burning those in sin (Psalm 104:18). This term "sinners" here refers to grievous wrongdoers marked by severe transgressions. The making of the golden calf socializes their wretched betrayal as they "changed their glory to the likeness of a bullock" (Psalm 105:19). Revealing the tragedy, they set aside their divine inheritance towards an earthly symbol, forgetting the wonders wrought in Egypt (Psalm 104:21).

Ultimately, "Therefore He said, 'I would destroy them'" (Psalm 104:23). Their rejection of divine wonder rendered them deserving of death. If not for Moses’ faithful intercession, the outcome would have been catastrophic. His pleas underscore how powerful the intercessions of saints are, revealing that God’s mercy could subsequently trump justice—a theme echoed throughout Scripture.

In viewing the land of promise, they "despised this good land" (Psalm 104:24). What they failed to cherish as intended proved there was more than their visible path—it was the faithfulness of God’s words binding them to triumph beyond earthly expectations. In their murmuring, they resisted the Lord's reasons, craving immediate satisfaction rather than abiding trust in His plan. Thus judgment awaited as God’s hand aimed at their rebellion, leading to widespread scattering among the nations (Psalm 105:26-27).

He liberated them from Pharaoh, who bore enmity towards them, as well as from the Egyptians, their foes, for the waters of the Red Sea engulfed them all, ensuring none survived. Observing this miracle, the Israelites put their faith in God's assurances and sang a song of triumph inspired by Moses: Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been exalted (Exodus 15:1); and Moses led the men’s choir while his sister Miriam directed the women. Another interpretation suggests that He restrained him as he organized, and the center withered. Isychius remarked that not merely the physical striking of Moses' staff but the command of God was what caused the sea to dry up. Theodoret explained that, by His word, He revealed the seabed, transforming this great abyss into a traversable expanse for them, much like a desert, where there are no hindrances to impede their journey. Chrysostom observed that two things are considered here: that they were indeed enemies and capable of malevolence; for what could be more burdensome than the yoke of slavery when the ruler harbors animosity? Nonetheless, God liberated them from such conditions. He further stated that while human cruelty led to the slaughter of many Israelite children at Pharaoh's decree, none could evade a divine command; thus, it is written that no one was left behind, illustrating that this judgment was orchestrated by God. On a more profound level, life in rebellion is akin to a tempestuous sea: every wayward soul sinks into despair like the Egyptians, whereas those who cherish and grasp the truth, and, like Israel, gain an identity from the divine vision, traverse this turmoil as if on dry land, unscathed by worldly tribulations. Consequently, Israel, led by the law symbolized through Moses, crossed the sea without their feet getting wet, while the Egyptians who attempted to follow sank within it, one moving with grace while the other was dragged to their doom. Virtue is a light and uplifting pursuit, and those who embody it, as Isaiah described, soar like clouds or doves with their young. Yet the burdened souls, as one prophet noted, drop like leads into the depths. Chrysostom commented that Moses expressed gratitude through song to serve as a lasting reminder of God's grace. Additionally, Miriam's timbrel, in which she rejoiced, signifies mortality; just as the dry instrument produces a resonant sound, purity shines forth and remains notable, devoid of worldly influences in this lifetime.

He then elaborates on the nature of salvation, illustrating the incomparable goodness of God, who has transformed the entire order of creation for the sake of such a sinful people. While discussing the parting of the sea, he highlights God's might, revealing how, with a mere command, He made the sea stand firm, allowing the waters to retreat and opening a pathway through their barriers. To further magnify the miracle, he employs a comparison likely drawn from Isaiah's words: "He shall lead them through the abyss, as a horse through the wilderness" (Isaiah 63:13).

And to address any potential objections regarding the wilderness filled with swamps and deep pits rather than seas, he affirms the authenticity of the miracle, stating, "The water that chills them has covered them, not one of them shall be removed." Here, when water provides a pathway for some while consuming others, the miraculous nature of the event is unmistakably evident; the term "abyss" signifies not a mere pool of water but an unfathomable depth typical of the sea, rather than a shallow marsh.

Who can fathom how the Word of God took on flesh, dwelled among us without leaving the embrace of the Father, and redeemed the first Adam? The prospect of the Last Judgment lingers in the thoughts of the discerning; blessed are they who hold fast to this truth, for it embodies the law of God that they honor. When the Israelites found themselves chased by the Egyptians, with the sea hindering their escape, they hesitated to await Your deliverance and instead lamented to the great Moses, “Are there no graves in Egypt that you have brought us to die in the wilderness?” (Exod. 14:11).