What does Psalm 106:45 reveal about God's covenant with His people? Text of Psalm 106:45 “And He remembered His covenant with them, and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.” Immediate Literary Setting Psalm 106 is a historical confession that surveys Israel’s repeated rebellion (vv. 6–43) and Yahweh’s repeated mercy (vv. 44–48). Verse 45 is the climactic pivot: judgment is restrained because God recalls His sworn bond. Everything before describes human unfaithfulness; everything after celebrates divine faithfulness. Historical Backdrop Psalm 106 reviews events from Egypt (vv. 7–12), wilderness wanderings (vv. 13–33), and the conquest period (vv. 34–43). In every epoch, the covenant threatened to unravel—but never did, because Yahweh’s promise to the patriarchs is unilateral (Genesis 17:7). Verse 45 echoes Leviticus 26:42–45, where God foretells exile yet guarantees remembrance “for the sake of the covenant with their ancestors.” Theological Motifs 1. Divine Remembrance Zākar signals that God’s fidelity, not Israel’s performance, is ultimate. 2. Covenant Mercy The abundance of ḥesed illustrates that wrath is God’s “strange work” (Isaiah 28:21) whereas mercy is His delight (Micah 7:18). 3. Conditional Discipline Earlier verses show that covenant curses fall when Israel sins (Deuteronomy 28), yet those curses serve restorative ends (Psalm 106:44). Verse 45 therefore enshrines both justice and grace within one covenantal framework. Christological Fulfillment The New Covenant (Luke 22:20) fulfills Psalm 106:45 by providing a Mediator who permanently satisfies covenant terms (Hebrews 8:6–13). Paul applies the same “remembered-covenant” motif to Gentiles grafted into Israel’s promises (Romans 15:8–9). Answer Summarized Psalm 106:45 reveals that God’s covenant with His people is irrevocably anchored in His own character: He actively remembers, mercifully restrains judgment, and faithfully honors His oath despite human failure. The verse encapsulates the biblical narrative—creation, fall, redemption—by spotlighting Yahweh’s steadfast ḥesed as the hinge of history and the hope of every generation. |
    |