Psalms 104 to 107 form a lovely sequence. Psalm 104 concludes by calling out, “Praise the Lord!” and the first verse of Psalm 105 responds, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord!” This pattern repeats, as similar expressions link one psalm with the next to produce a joyful chain of praise.

Psalm 104 blessed the God of creation, and then Psalm 105 glorified the God of redemption. But Psalm 106 takes on a different tone. Despite God’s favor, the psalmist must confess, “We have sinned” (Ps. 106:6). Whereas Psalm 105 reviewed God’s saving power, Psalm 106 recounts the repeated, stubborn failures of His people. It is a somber inventory. In Egypt and at the Red Sea they accused Him; in the wilderness they tested Him (vv. 7–15). They envied Moses and Aaron, worshiped a golden calf, and despised the promised land when they first came near (vv. 16–27). They turned to Baal, then contended with the Lord at the waters of strife (vv. 28–32; cf. Num. 20:13). Even in the land, they did not battle God’s enemies but joined them instead (vv. 34–39). How apt are the psalmist’s words: “They forgot God their Savior” (v. 21).

It is worth noting that Psalms 104 and 105 magnified God’s works, but Psalm 106 says the people forgot His works (vv. 13, 21–22). As a result, they learned the works of the Gentiles, which soon became their own defiling works (vv. 35, 39). If we forget what the Lord has done, we will follow the same unhappy path.

The poet of Psalm 106 evidently lived many centuries after Moses, for the people were already in captivity due to unfaithfulness. Even so, he asks God to regather them (vv. 46–47), and he concludes by saying, “Praise the Lord!” Have we strayed far from God? We too can seek Him, for in wrath He will remember mercy (Hab. 3:2).