What is the meaning of Psalm 106:21? They forgot - Psalm 106 recounts Israel’s repeated cycle of deliverance followed by drifting hearts. Verse 21 opens with the stark admission: “They forgot.” - Forgetting here is not a lapse of memory but a willful neglect. The people chose convenience over covenant faithfulness (cf. Deuteronomy 6:10-12; Judges 3:7; Psalm 78:11). - This deliberate amnesia set the stage for idolatry, complaint, and rebellion—reminding us how quickly blessings become commonplace when gratitude fades. God - The One they dismissed is not a vague higher power but the living God who revealed His name and character (cf. Psalm 95:3-7; Jeremiah 10:10). - Relationship, not ritual, lay at the heart of Israel’s identity. To forget God was to sever the very lifeline of the nation. - Every command, celebration, and statute was designed to keep Him central, yet they pushed Him to the margins. their Savior - “God their Savior” personalizes the offense. The same Lord who rescued them is the One they neglected (cf. Exodus 14:13; 2 Samuel 22:2-3; Psalm 27:1). - Salvation in Scripture is both historical and ongoing: He saved from Egypt, and He saves from daily perils. Neglecting the Savior implies self-reliance—a swift path to spiritual ruin. - The phrase underscores covenant love: God binds Himself to His people as Rescuer, expecting reciprocal loyalty. who did great things - The psalmist draws attention to the magnitude of divine acts: plagues, Passover, Red Sea crossing—events meant to be retold for generations (cf. Deuteronomy 10:21; Psalm 78:12-14; Joel 2:21). - “Great things” testifies to power beyond human explanation, calling forth awe and obedience. Forgetting such wonders reveals a heart dull to glory. - Remembering magnifies faith; forgetting shrinks God to the size of our fears. in Egypt - Egypt symbolizes bondage, oppression, and divine triumph. God’s works there form the cornerstone of Israel’s national story (cf. Exodus 12:50-51; Psalm 136:10-12). - Every plague exposed Egypt’s idols and exalted the Lord. Israel’s deliverance was not merely political; it was a revelation of God’s character—holy, just, and compassionate. - To overlook Egypt is to erase the evidence of grace that birthed the nation. summary Psalm 106:21 warns that spiritual amnesia breeds unfaithfulness. Israel’s neglect of “God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt” showcases the tragedy of forgetting covenant history. The verse calls believers to deliberate remembrance—rehearsing God’s mighty acts, keeping Him central, and responding with continuous gratitude and obedience. |
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