What is the meaning of Psalm 106:15? So He granted their request • In Numbers 11:4-35 the Israelites grew tired of manna and craved meat; God answered by sending quail “two cubits deep” (Numbers 11:31). • Psalm 78:29 echoes, “So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved.” • God’s willingness to grant the demand shows He listens, yet it also warns that persistent sinful desire can override wiser divine provisions (Psalm 106:13-14; James 1:14-15; Romans 1:24). • Prayers that press for self-gratification rather than God’s glory may be answered in judgment rather than blessing (Psalm 37:4; 1 John 5:14). but sent • The conjunction “but” signals a sharp contrast: divine concession followed by divine discipline. • God remains sovereign; answering a request does not negate His right to correct (Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:19). • The same hand that supplies can also chastise, keeping covenant faithfulness even when His people are faithless (Deuteronomy 32:15-20; Psalm 89:30-32). a wasting disease upon them • Numbers 11:33-34 records “a severe plague” that struck while the meat was still in their teeth. Psalm 78:31 adds, “God’s anger rose against them, and He struck down the strongest among them.” • The wasting disease underlines that sin carries concrete consequences—sometimes immediate, sometimes delayed, always real (Galatians 6:7-8; 1 Corinthians 10:6-11). • Physical judgment dramatizes spiritual truth: craving what God withholds can hollow a soul just as sickness wastes a body (Proverbs 14:12; Isaiah 55:2). • The event becomes a lasting cautionary tale for believers: seek first His kingdom, trust His provision, and resist the lure of discontent (Matthew 6:31-33; Philippians 4:11-13). summary Psalm 106:15 shows God answering Israel’s stubborn craving yet pairing the gift with a plague. The verse teaches that He may permit what we demand, but if our desires are misplaced the granted request can become an instrument of discipline. Better to align our appetites with His will than to chase cravings that end in loss. |
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