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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2015 May 18



Rakshasa Demon (c. 2012)
Dominic Qwek (Contemporary Artist)
Concept Art Style
Private Collection
Image Source: DeviantArt


     Explanation: In Psalm 106 recites the spiritual implications of various incidents in Israel's history. Confession of sin and thanks for mercy is central. It is similar to the previous Psalm which emphasizes praise for God's goodness to Israel throughout their history. Today's image is a visual commentary on verses 34-38 which speaks of sacrificing children to devils. The image shows the true nature of these beings -- even their heart is a devouring heart.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalm 105. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 106 - #1. Psalm 106 - #2. Psalm 106 - #3. ]

     The Psalmist exhorts us to praise and thank the LORD for his goodness and his everlasting mercy (1). He asks who can utter all of the mighty acts of the LORD or show forth all of his praise (2). He says that those who are obedient to him are blessed. And he asks to be remembered favorably by the LORD and to be visited with his deliverance so that he might rejoice with his nation when good comes to them. We may infer from this request, and from the request in verse 47 which asks the LORD to gather the nation from among the heathen, that these were the prayers of the Exiles in Babylon prior to their release (3-5). He then expands his prayer based on the needs of Israel and deeds of the LORD among them. He first confesses their sin. They failed to understand his wondrous deeds in Egypt; and they forgot his mercies. They provoked him at the Red Sea. Nevertheless, he saved him for his name's sake that he might make his power known. He took them through the Red Sea and killed their enemies; and they believed his words and sang his praise (6-12). But they soon forgot his works and lusted exceedingly in the wilderness. God gave them their request but sent leanness into their soul (13-15). They envied Moses and Aaron; and the LORD destroyed the company of Dathan and Abiram by causing the earth to swallow them and by causing fire to consume them (16-18). In Horeb, in the wilderness, they forgot God and his wonders and made a calf idol and worshiped it. But Moses interceded with the LORD on their behalf and persuaded him not to destroy them (19-23). They despised the Promised Land; and the LORD destroyed many of them in the wilderness (24-27). In the wilderness, they sacrificed to Baalpeor and ate the sacrifices of the dead. God sent a plague upon them; but Phinehas executed judgment upon them; and the LORD stopped the plague and gave Phinehas the title of a righteous man (28-31). In the wilderness they angered the LORD at the waters of strife; and when Moses was angered and spoke unadvisedly with his lips it went ill for him. He was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (32-33). When they entered the Promised Land they did not destroy the nations around them, as the LORD had commanded. Instead they mingled with the heathen, learned their ways, served their idols, sacrificed their sons and daughters to false gods, and polluted the land with blood (34-38). They went their own way; and the LORD abhorred them; and he gave them into the hand of the heathen who hated them. They oppressed them. And the LORD delivered them many times (39-43). The LORD regarded their affliction and remembered his covenant and had mercy upon them. He made their captors have pity upon them (44-46). The Psalmist then asks the LORD to "save us" and to "gather us" from among the heathen so that they might give thanks to his holy name and triumph in his praise (47). The Psalmist closes by blessing the LORD God of Israel and by calling upon all the people to say amen and to praise the LORD (48).


THE PSALTER:

BOOK FOUR OF FIVE:

Psalms 90-106.


Psalm 106

1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
4 Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
5 That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
21 They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
27 To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.

28 They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
30 Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
40 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
43 Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
46 He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

47 Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.

48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.


* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]





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