15 November 2004

Text: Psalm 106

1. Deep Underlying Roots
"They did not destroy the peoples,
Concerning whom the Lord had commanded them,
But they mingled with the Gentiles
And learned their works;
They served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.
They even sacrificed their sons,
And their daughters to demons,
And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their sons and daughters,
Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with blood.
Thus they were defiled by their own works,
And played the harlot by their own deeds."   Psalm 106:34-39

a) The sin of Disobedience
i) Commandment to fight and destroy the inhabitants of Canaan
ii) Disobedience   (Cf. Judges 1-2)

b) Influence of "The Gentiles"
i) Served idols
ii) Sacrificed their children to demonic worship
iii) Land defiled because of infanticide

c) These practices were rebuked specifically by Jeremiah the prophet (Cf. Jeremiah 7:31)
i) These practices carried on for a long time
ii) The land was declared "polluted with blood"

2. The Severe but appropriate Responses of the Lord
"Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people,
So that He abhorred His own inheritance.
And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles,
And those who hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them,
And they were brought into subjection under their hand.
Many times He delivered them;
But they rebelled in their counsel,
And were brought low for their iniquity."   Psalm 106:40-43

a) Wrath of the Lord

b) Abhorred His own inheritance

c) Gave them over to the Gentiles
i) In days of the Judges
ii) Israel to Assyria   2 Kings 17
iii) Judah to Babylon   2 Kings 36

3. The Mercies of the Lord
"Nevertheless He regarded their affliction,
When He heard their cry;
And for their sake He remembered His covenant,
And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.
He also made them to be pitied
By all who carried them away captive."   Psalm 106:44-46

a) He remembered His covenant

b) Multitude of mercies

4. A Heartfelt Plea
"Save us, O Lord our God,
And gather us from among the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, 'Amen!'
Praise the Lord."   Psalm 106:47-48

a) A plea for deliverance (an oft-repeated prayer)

b) A plea to be gathered together as a nation