13 They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel: 14 And they lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 Then he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. 16 And they envied Moses in the camp, [and] Aaron, the saint of Jehovah. 17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram; 18 And fire was kindled in their company; a flame burned up the wicked. 19 They made a calf in Horeb, and did homage to a molten image; 20 And they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. 21 They forgot God their Saviour, who had done great things in Egypt, 22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, terrible things by the Red Sea. 23 And he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses, his chosen, stood before him in the breach, to turn away his fury, lest he should destroy [them]. 24 And they despised the pleasant land; they believed not his word, 25 But murmured in their tents: they hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah. 26 And he lifted up his hand to them, that he would make them fall in the wilderness; 27 And that he would make their seed fall among the nations, and disperse them through the countries. 28 And they joined themselves unto Baal-Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead; 29 And they provoked [him] to anger with their doings; and a plague broke out among them. 30 Then stood up Phinehas and executed judgment, and the plague was stayed; 31 And that was reckoned unto him for righteousness, from generation to generation, for evermore. 32 And they moved him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account; 33 For they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 106:13-33
Commentary on Psalm 106:13-33
(Read Psalm 106:13-33)
Those that will not wait for God's counsel, shall justly be given up to their own hearts' lusts, to walk in their own counsels. An undue desire, even for lawful things, becomes sinful. God showed his displeasure for this. He filled them with uneasiness of mind, terror of conscience, and self-reproach. Many that fare deliciously every day, and whose bodies are healthful, have leanness in their souls: no love to God, no thankfulness, no appetite for the Bread of life, and then the soul must be lean. Those wretchedly forget themselves, that feast their bodies and starve their souls. Even the true believer will see abundant cause to say, It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not consumed. Often have we set up idols in our hearts, cleaved to some forbidden object; so that if a greater than Moses had not stood to turn away the anger of the Lord, we should have been destroyed. If God dealt severely with Moses for unadvised words, what do those deserve who speak many proud and wicked words? It is just in God to remove those relations that are blessings to us, when we are peevish and provoking to them, and grieve their spirits.