Psalm 106:47
Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise.
Save us
The plea for salvation is a recurring theme throughout the Psalms and the Bible as a whole. In Hebrew, the word for "save" is "yasha," which is the root of the name "Yeshua" (Jesus), meaning "The Lord is salvation." This cry for deliverance is not just a request for physical rescue but also a spiritual salvation, reflecting the deep human need for God's intervention in our lives. Historically, the Israelites often found themselves in situations where they needed God's saving power, whether from enemies, famine, or spiritual decline.

O LORD our God
This phrase acknowledges the covenant relationship between God and His people. "LORD" in all caps refers to "YHWH," the personal name of God revealed to Moses, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature. "Our God" emphasizes the personal and communal relationship the Israelites had with God, recognizing Him as their sovereign and protector. This relationship is foundational to understanding the identity and mission of Israel as God's chosen people.

and gather us from the nations
The gathering from the nations speaks to the historical context of the Babylonian exile, where the Israelites were scattered among foreign lands. The Hebrew word "qabats" means to collect or assemble, indicating a restoration and return to their homeland. This phrase also prophetically points to the eschatological hope of a future gathering of God's people from all corners of the earth, a theme echoed in the New Testament regarding the gathering of believers at the end of times.

that we may give thanks to Your holy name
Thanksgiving is a central act of worship in the Bible. The Hebrew word for "thanks" is "yadah," which involves acknowledging God's character and deeds. "Your holy name" refers to God's nature and reputation, which is set apart and worthy of reverence. This phrase underscores the purpose of salvation and gathering: to worship and glorify God, recognizing His holiness and sovereignty.

and glory in Your praise
To "glory" in something means to take great joy and pride in it. The Hebrew word "halal" is the root of "hallelujah," meaning to boast or celebrate. "Your praise" indicates that the ultimate aim of God's redemptive acts is His own glory. This phrase invites believers to find their highest joy and fulfillment in the worship and exaltation of God, aligning with the biblical theme that humanity's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is called upon for salvation and gathering.

2. Israelites
The people of God who are seeking deliverance and restoration from their dispersion among the nations.

3. Nations (Gentiles)
The foreign lands where the Israelites have been scattered due to their disobedience and exile.

4. Exile
The historical context of Israel's dispersion, likely referring to the Babylonian exile, where they longed for return and restoration.

5. Holy Name
The sacred and revered name of God, which the Israelites desire to honor through their worship and thanksgiving.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness to Restore
Despite Israel's disobedience, God remains faithful to His promises. This encourages believers to trust in God's unchanging nature and His ability to restore and redeem.

The Importance of Thanksgiving
The purpose of gathering is to give thanks and glory to God's holy name. Believers are reminded to cultivate a heart of gratitude, recognizing God's work in their lives.

Unity in Worship
The gathering from the nations signifies unity among God's people. Christians are called to seek unity in the body of Christ, transcending cultural and national boundaries.

Hope in God's Deliverance
The plea for salvation reflects a deep hope in God's deliverance. Believers are encouraged to hold onto hope, even in times of exile or spiritual dryness, trusting in God's ultimate plan for redemption.

Living for God's Glory
The desire to glory in God's praise highlights the purpose of our lives—to bring glory to God. Christians are challenged to live in a way that honors and magnifies God's name.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the historical context of Israel's exile enhance our understanding of Psalm 106:47?

2. In what ways can we apply the concept of "gathering from the nations" to the modern church's mission?

3. How does the theme of thanksgiving in this verse challenge our personal and communal worship practices?

4. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate unity in the body of Christ today?

5. How can we maintain hope in God's deliverance during personal or communal "exile" experiences?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 30:3-4
This passage speaks of God's promise to gather His people from all the nations where they have been scattered, highlighting His faithfulness to restore them.

1 Chronicles 16:35
A similar plea for salvation and gathering, emphasizing the continuity of Israel's hope in God's deliverance.

Jeremiah 29:14
God's assurance of bringing His people back from captivity, reinforcing the theme of restoration and hope.

Ezekiel 11:17
God's promise to gather the Israelites from the nations and give them the land of Israel, underscoring His commitment to His covenant people.
The Nevertheless of God's MercyS. Conway Psalm 106:1-48
People
Aaron, Abiram, Baalpeor, Dathan, Ham, Phinehas, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Gather, Glory, Heathen, Holy, Honour, Nations, O, Praise, Save, Saviour, Thanks, Triumph
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 106:47

     6634   deliverance

Psalm 106:33-48

     3272   Holy Spirit, in OT

Psalm 106:47-48

     8666   praise, manner and methods

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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