Psalm 106:24
They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.
Then they despised
The Hebrew word for "despised" is "נָאַץ" (na'ats), which conveys a strong sense of rejection and disdain. In the context of Psalm 106, this word reflects the Israelites' attitude towards God's promises. Historically, this occurred during their journey in the wilderness when they doubted God's ability to lead them into the Promised Land. This act of despising is not merely a passive disbelief but an active rejection of God's faithfulness and provision. It serves as a cautionary tale for believers today, reminding us to trust in God's promises and not to let doubt lead us to contempt.

the pleasant land
The "pleasant land" refers to Canaan, the land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Hebrew term "אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה" (eretz chemdah) can be translated as "land of desire" or "land of delight," emphasizing its richness and fertility. Archaeological evidence supports the description of Canaan as a land abundant in resources, which was highly desirable in the ancient Near East. Spiritually, this land symbolizes the blessings and inheritance God has for His people. The Israelites' failure to appreciate this gift reflects a broader spiritual failure to recognize and value God's blessings.

they did not believe
The phrase "they did not believe" highlights a critical spiritual failure. The Hebrew root "אָמַן" (aman) means to confirm, support, or be faithful. In this context, it indicates a lack of trust in God's word and promises. This disbelief was not just a momentary lapse but a persistent attitude that led to rebellion. For contemporary believers, this serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem challenging or uncertain.

His promise
The "promise" refers to God's covenantal assurances to the Israelites, particularly the promise of the land of Canaan. The Hebrew word "אִמְרָה" (imrah) can mean word, speech, or promise, emphasizing the reliability and authority of God's declarations. Throughout Scripture, God's promises are depicted as sure and steadfast, forming the foundation of the believer's hope and faith. The Israelites' failure to believe in God's promise serves as a warning against the dangers of unbelief and the importance of holding fast to God's word.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The chosen people of God who were delivered from Egypt and journeyed through the wilderness towards the Promised Land.

2. The Promised Land
Referred to as the "pleasant land" in this verse, it is the land of Canaan, which God promised to Abraham and his descendants.

3. The Wilderness
The place where the Israelites wandered for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith.

4. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who guided them out of Egypt and through the wilderness.

5. The Spies
Twelve men sent by Moses to scout the Promised Land, ten of whom returned with a negative report that led to the Israelites' disbelief.
Teaching Points
Faith in God's Promises
Just as the Israelites struggled to believe in God's promise of the Promised Land, we must examine our own faith in God's promises for our lives. Are we trusting God fully, or are we allowing fear and doubt to hinder us?

The Consequences of Disbelief
The Israelites' disbelief led to a prolonged journey and missed blessings. We should be mindful of how our own disbelief can lead to missed opportunities and spiritual stagnation.

Valuing God's Gifts
The "pleasant land" was a gift from God, yet the Israelites despised it. We should cultivate gratitude and appreciation for the blessings God has given us, recognizing their value and purpose.

Obedience and Trust
The call to enter the Promised Land required obedience and trust in God. In our lives, we are called to step out in faith, trusting that God will lead us to where He has promised.

Learning from the Past
The history of the Israelites serves as a lesson for us. We should learn from their mistakes and strive to live in faith and obedience, avoiding the pitfalls of disbelief.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some promises from God that you find difficult to believe or trust in your own life? How can you strengthen your faith in these areas?

2. Reflect on a time when disbelief led to a missed opportunity or blessing in your life. What did you learn from that experience?

3. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude for the "pleasant land" or blessings God has given you?

4. In what ways can you demonstrate obedience and trust in God's guidance, even when the path seems uncertain?

5. How can the account of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land serve as a warning and encouragement in your spiritual walk today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Numbers 13-14
This passage details the sending of the spies into Canaan and the subsequent rebellion of the Israelites when they refused to enter the land due to fear and disbelief.

Hebrews 3:7-19
This New Testament passage reflects on the Israelites' unbelief and disobedience, warning believers to remain faithful and obedient to God's promises.

Deuteronomy 1:32-36
Moses recounts the Israelites' lack of faith and God's response, emphasizing the importance of trust in God's promises.
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
Belief, Believe, Believed, Credence, Desirable, Despised, Didn't, Disgusted, Faith, Kick, Moreover, Pleasant, Promise, Scorned, Yea, Yes
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 106:24

     8835   unbelief, nature of
     8836   unbelief, response

Psalm 106:13-39

     8705   apostasy, in OT

Psalm 106:24-27

     7258   promised land, early history

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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