13 They soon forgot his works.
They didn’t wait for his counsel, 14 but gave in to craving in the desert,
and tested God in the wasteland. 15 He gave them their request,
but sent leanness into their soul. 16 They envied Moses also in the camp,
and Aaron, Yahweh’s saint. 17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
and covered the company of Abiram. 18 A fire was kindled in their company.
The flame burned up the wicked. 19 They made a calf in Horeb,
and worshiped a molten image. 20 Thus they exchanged their glory
for an image of a bull that eats grass. 21 They forgot God, their Savior,
who had done great things in Egypt, 22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and awesome things by the Red Sea [1]. 23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them,
had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach,
to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn’t destroy them. 24 Yes, they despised the pleasant land.
They didn’t believe his word, 25 but murmured in their tents,
and didn’t listen to Yahweh’s voice. 26 Therefore he swore to them
that he would overthrow them in the wilderness, 27 that he would overthrow their seed among the nations,
and scatter them in the lands. 28 They joined themselves also to Baal Peor,
and ate the sacrifices of the dead. 29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds.
The plague broke in on them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment,
so the plague was stopped. 31 That was credited to him for righteousness,
for all generations to come. 32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah,
so that Moses was troubled for their sakes; 33 because they were rebellious against his spirit,
he spoke rashly 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.