Psalm 106:29
So they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them.
So they provoked the LORD
This phrase highlights the Israelites' actions that stirred God's anger. The Hebrew root for "provoked" is "קָצַף" (qatsaph), which means to be angry or to provoke to anger. Historically, this reflects the repeated disobedience and rebellion of the Israelites against God's commandments. The Israelites' actions were not just minor infractions but deliberate acts that challenged God's authority and holiness. This serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the importance of obedience to God.

to anger
The word "anger" in Hebrew is "אַף" (aph), often associated with the flaring of nostrils, symbolizing intense emotion. In the biblical context, God's anger is not capricious but a righteous response to sin and injustice. It underscores the holiness of God and His intolerance of sin. This phrase serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God's ways and the importance of living in accordance with His will.

by their deeds
The term "deeds" refers to the actions and behaviors of the Israelites. The Hebrew word "מַעֲשֶׂה" (ma'aseh) encompasses works, actions, or practices. This highlights that it was not merely their thoughts or intentions but their tangible actions that provoked God. It serves as a reminder that faith must be accompanied by righteous actions, as our deeds reflect the state of our hearts and our relationship with God.

and a plague broke out among them
The phrase "a plague broke out" indicates a direct consequence of the Israelites' rebellion. The Hebrew word for "plague" is "מַגֵּפָה" (magephah), which can mean a blow or a striking. In the historical context, plagues were often seen as divine judgments. This serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of divine discipline and the serious repercussions of sin. It calls believers to repentance and a return to faithful obedience to God, emphasizing His desire for His people to live in holiness and righteousness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The people of God who were delivered from Egypt and wandered in the wilderness. They are the primary subjects of this Psalm, which recounts their repeated disobedience and rebellion against God.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is holy and just. He is provoked to anger by the Israelites' actions, demonstrating His righteous response to sin.

3. The Wilderness
The setting for much of Israel's rebellion, including the events leading to the plague mentioned in this verse. It represents a place of testing and reliance on God.

4. The Plague
A divine judgment sent by God as a consequence of Israel's sin. It serves as a physical manifestation of God's displeasure and a call to repentance.

5. The Deeds of Rebellion
The specific actions of the Israelites that provoked God's anger, likely referring to idolatry and immorality, as seen in the broader context of Psalm 106 and the historical accounts in the Pentateuch.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Sin
Sin provokes God's righteous anger. We must recognize the gravity of our actions and their potential to disrupt our relationship with God.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Just as the Israelites faced a plague, our sins can lead to serious consequences, both spiritually and physically. We must strive for obedience to avoid such outcomes.

God's Call to Repentance
Even in judgment, God desires repentance and restoration. We should be quick to turn back to Him when we recognize our sin.

Learning from the Past
The history of Israel serves as a warning and a lesson. We should study these accounts to avoid repeating the same mistakes in our own lives.

The Holiness of God
God's response to sin underscores His holiness. We are called to live holy lives, set apart for His purposes.
Bible Study Questions
1. What specific actions of the Israelites led to God's anger in Psalm 106:29, and how can we identify similar behaviors in our own lives?

2. How does the incident at Peor (Numbers 25) illustrate the consequences of idolatry and immorality, and what modern-day idols might we need to guard against?

3. In what ways does 1 Corinthians 10 use the history of Israel to instruct Christians today, and how can we apply these lessons to our spiritual walk?

4. How does understanding the holiness of God influence our approach to sin and repentance?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced the consequences of disobedience. How did that experience shape your relationship with God and your understanding of His grace and justice?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Numbers 25
This chapter provides the historical background for Psalm 106:29, detailing the incident at Peor where the Israelites engaged in idolatry and immorality with the Moabites, leading to a plague.

Exodus 32
The golden calf incident is another example of Israel's rebellion and God's anger, illustrating a pattern of disobedience and divine judgment.

1 Corinthians 10
Paul references the events in the wilderness as warnings for Christians, emphasizing the importance of learning from Israel's mistakes.
The Nevertheless of God's MercyS. Conway Psalm 106:1-48
Contempt of the InheritanceD. King, LL. D.Psalm 106:24-31
Contempt of the Pleasant LandDean Vaughan.Psalm 106:24-31
Despising God's GiftsA. Maclaren, D.D.Psalm 106:24-31
HeavenW. R. Hutton, M.A.Psalm 106:24-31
The Persistency of SinHomilistPsalm 106:24-31
People
Aaron, Abiram, Baalpeor, Dathan, Ham, Phinehas, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Actions, Anger, Angry, Behaviour, Brake, Breaketh, Broke, Deeds, Disease, Doings, Forth, Inventions, Plague, Provoke, Provoked, Thus, Wicked
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 106:29

     1025   God, anger of
     1210   God, human descriptions

Psalm 106:13-39

     8705   apostasy, in OT

Psalm 106:28-29

     6218   provoking God

Psalm 106:28-31

     4843   plague

Library
June the Twelfth Waiting for the Spectacular
"The waves covered their enemies.... Then believed they His words." --PSALM cvi. 1-12. Their faith was born in a great emergency. A spectacular deliverance was needed to implant their trust in the Lord. They found no witness in the quiet daily providence; the unobtrusive miracle of daily mercy did not awake their song. They dwelt upon the "special" blessing, when all the time the really special blessing was to be found in the sleepless care which watched over them in their ordinary and commonplace
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Israel at the Red Sea
"A few more rolling years at most, Will land me on fair Canaan's coast.' And then I shall have no more warfare, no more fighting, no more disturbance; but I shall be at peace." "Not quite as thou desirest," says God. "Oh! thou little one; I have more to teach thee ere thou art prepared for my palace." Then he commences to lead us about, and bring us into straits and perils. The sins which we thought had utterly left us are hunting us behind, while impassible floods block up the way. Even trembling
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Why are Men Saved?
"The hand that made us is Divine." If we listen to the rippling of the freshet at the mountain side, to the tumbling of the avalanche, to the lowing of the cattle, to the singing of the birds, to every voice and sound of nature, we shall hear this answer to the question, "God is our maker; he hath made us, and not we ourselves." The next question, as to design--Why were these things made?--is not so easy to answer, apart from Scripture; but when we look at Scripture we discover this fact--that as
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Sin: Its Spring-Head, Stream, and Sea
It may help us to escape out of the meshes of our natural depravity, if we look back and see the causes of our fathers' sins. To confess our personal sin will tend to keep us humble; and in view of the Lord's mercy, which has spared and pardoned us, a sense of our guilt will make us grateful. The less we think of ourselves the more we shall think of him whose "mercy endureth for ever"; and if we see where our fathers' sins began, and how they grew, and what they came to, we may hope that the Spirit
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Waters of Meribah
'Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! 4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Fourteenth Day. The Holy one of God.
Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.'--Luke i. 35. 'We have believed and know that Thou art the Holy One of God.'--John vi. 69. 'The holy one of the Lord'--only once (Ps. cvi. 16) the expression is found in the Old Testament. It is spoken of Aaron, in whom holiness, as far as it could then be revealed, had found its most complete embodiment. The title waited for its fulfilment in Him who alone, in His own person, could perfectly show forth
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Man's Misery by the Fall
Q-19: WHAT IS THE MISERY OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? A: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. 'And were by nature children of wrath.' Eph 2:2. Adam left an unhappy portion to his posterity, Sin and Misery. Having considered the first of these, original sin, we shall now advert to the misery of that state. In the first, we have seen mankind offending;
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Our Status.
"And he believed in the Lord: and he counted it to him for righteousness." --Gen. xv. 6. The right touches a man's status. So long as the law has not proven him guilty, has not convicted and sentenced him, his legal status is that of a free and law-abiding citizen. But as soon as his guilt is proven in court and the jury has convicted him, he passes from that into the status of the bound and law-breaking citizen. The same applies to our relation to God. Our status before God is that either of the
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for Churches.
Text: Philippians 1, 3-11. 3 I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy, 5 for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Elucidations.
I. (Deadly Sins, cap. ix., p. 356.) To maintain a modern and wholly uncatholic system of Penitence, the schoolmen invented a technical scheme of sins mortal and sins venial, which must not be read into the Fathers, who had no such technicalities in mind. By "deadly sins" they meant all such as St. John recognizes (1 John v. 16-17) and none other; that is to say sins of surprise and infirmity, sins having in them no malice or wilful disobedience, such as an impatient word, or a momentary neglect of
Tertullian—The Five Books Against Marcion

Rest for the Weary
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. W hich shall we admire most -- the majesty, or the grace, conspicuous in this invitation? How soon would the greatest earthly monarch be impoverished, and his treasures utterly exhausted, if all, that are poor and miserable, had encouragement to apply freely to him, with a promise of relief, fully answerable to their wants and wishes! But the riches of Christ are unsearchable and inexhaustible. If millions and millions
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Obedience
Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.' Deut 27: 9, 10. What is the duty which God requireth of man? Obedience to his revealed will. It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God. If then I be a Father, where is my honour?' Mal 1: 6. Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. Obey the voice of the Lord
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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