How does Psalm 106:21 connect with Israel's deliverance from Egypt?

Setting the Scene

Psalm 106 is a historical psalm that rehearses Israel’s story, highlighting God’s mighty acts and Israel’s repeated failure to remember His works.

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Key Verse

“ They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt.” (Psalm 106:21)

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Direct Link to the Exodus

- “God their Savior” points back to Exodus 14:13–14, where the Lord is explicitly called the One who would “save” Israel from the Egyptians.

- “Great things in Egypt” recalls the ten plagues (Exodus 7–12), God’s judgments on Egypt that compelled Pharaoh to release Israel.

- Psalm 106:22 adds, “wondrous works in the land of Ham,” mirroring Exodus 7:3–5.

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Echoes of Specific Acts of Deliverance

- Plague of Blood (Exodus 7:14–24) — a sign of God’s supremacy over Egypt’s gods.

- Passover Night (Exodus 12:29–30) — the decisive judgment that freed Israel.

- Red Sea Crossing (Exodus 14:21–31) — the climactic moment of salvation, confirmed in Psalm 106:9, “He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up.”

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The Pattern of Forgetfulness

- Psalm 106:13: “Yet they soon forgot His works” — sets the stage for verse 21’s indictment.

- Numbers 11 and 14 record Israel’s murmuring and longing to return to Egypt, evidence of spiritual amnesia.

- Deuteronomy 8:11–14 warns that prosperity can breed forgetfulness, a theme echoed here.

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Why the Connection Matters

- Remembering God’s deliverance is essential for covenant faithfulness (Exodus 20:2).

- Forgetting leads to idolatry (Psalm 106:19) and judgment (Psalm 106:26–27).

- The psalmist’s confession (Psalm 106:6) models repentance rooted in historical memory.

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Takeaway Lessons

• God’s past salvation (the Exodus) is the foundation for present trust.

• Forgetting divine deliverance opens the door to sin and unbelief.

• Regular rehearsal of God’s mighty acts fuels gratitude and obedience (Joshua 4:6–7; 1 Corinthians 10:11).