Show Don't Tell: Psalm 106

Instead of saying "Israel repeatedly sinned but God showed mercy," count the rebellions. "Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." The familiar refrain—but this psalm tells the other side. "We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly." Confession first. The catalogue of failure: "Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea." At the sea—before crossing—already rebelling. "Yet he saved them for his name's sake... They believed his promises and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold." Quickly forgetting. "In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test." Craving. "They grew envious of Moses in the camp, and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD. The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram." Earth swallowing rebels. "At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass." Trading glory for grass-eater. "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt... So he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them." Moses in the breach. "They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD." More: Baal of Peor, waters of Meribah, not destroying nations, sacrificing children to demons. "Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion... Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented." Bent on rebellion, relenting love. "Save us, LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise." Ends Book 4.