13 But it wasn't long before they forgot the whole thing, wouldn't wait to be told what to do. 14 They only cared about pleasing themselves in that desert, provoked God with their insistent demands. 15 He gave them exactly what they asked for - but along with it they got an empty heart. 16 One day in camp some grew jealous of Moses, also of Aaron, holy priest of God. 17 The ground opened and swallowed Dathan, then buried Abiram's gang. 18 Fire flared against that rebel crew and torched them to a cinder. 19 They cast in metal a bull calf at Horeb and worshiped the statue they'd made. 20 They traded the Glory for a cheap piece of sculpture - a grass-chewing bull! 21 They forgot God, their very own Savior, who turned things around in Egypt, 22 Who created a world of wonders in the Land of Ham, who gave that stunning performance at the Red Sea. 23 Fed up, God decided to get rid of them - and except for Moses, his chosen, he would have. But Moses stood in the gap and deflected God's anger, prevented it from destroying them utterly. 24 They went on to reject the Blessed Land, didn't believe a word of what God promised. 25 They found fault with the life they had and turned a deaf ear to God's voice. 26 Exasperated, God swore that he'd lay them low in the desert, 27 Scattering their children hither and yon, strewing them all over the earth. 28 Then they linked up with Baal Peor, attending funeral banquets and eating idol food. 29 That made God so angry that a plague spread through their ranks; 30 Phinehas stood up and pled their case and the plague was stopped. 31 This was counted to his credit; his descendants will never forget it. 32 They angered God again at Meribah Springs; this time Moses got mixed up in their evil; 33 Because they defied God yet again, Moses exploded and lost his temper.
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.