What is the meaning of Psalm 106:14? They - Refers to the redeemed nation of Israel, freshly delivered from Egypt (Exodus 16:2–3; Numbers 11:1–4). - Though they had witnessed “the wonders He performed” (Psalm 105:5), they quickly shifted from gratitude to grumbling (Psalm 106:6–7). - Their corporate memory of God’s mighty works did not stop them from acting “just like their fathers” (Psalm 78:8). craved intensely - Psalm 106:14: “They craved intensely in the wilderness.” - The craving was not a normal hunger but an uncontrolled lust for more than God’s daily manna (Numbers 11:4–6, 34). • It exposed discontent with God’s provision. • It devalued the spiritual freedom they had gained in favor of physical indulgence (1 Corinthians 10:6). - God had already promised to supply every need (Exodus 16:12), yet they demanded excess, revealing a heart posture of unbelief (James 1:14–15). in the wilderness - The setting underscores the lesson: a place with no natural resources, where dependence on the Lord was essential (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). - Here God intended to train His people to “live on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). - Instead of embracing the training, they yearned for Egypt’s menu (Numbers 11:5), forgetting Egypt’s chains (Exodus 1:13-14). and tested God - Psalm 106:14b: “and tested God in the desert.” - Testing God means pushing the limits of His patience, demanding proofs of His goodness (Exodus 17:2, 7). • They questioned His motives: “Is the LORD among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7). • They limited His power by their unbelief (Psalm 78:41). • Such testing directly violates God’s command: “You shall not test the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 6:16). in the desert - Repetition of location drives home responsibility: even in the harshest place, God had repeatedly shown care—water from the rock (Exodus 17:6), daily manna (Exodus 16:14-16), quail on demand (Numbers 11:31-32). - Their sin did not arise from lack of evidence but from hearts “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13, referencing Psalm 95:8-9). - The desert becomes both classroom and courtroom: God teaches, they rebel; God provides, they protest. summary Psalm 106:14 exposes Israel’s pattern—rescued people craving what God withheld, then daring Him to prove Himself. Their craving revealed discontent; their testing revealed unbelief. The wilderness and desert magnified every flaw, yet also magnified God’s patience. The verse warns today’s believer to treasure God’s provision and trust His character, refusing to let craving lead to provocation. |
    |