Psalm 106:6-15,36
6 Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. 7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. 8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power. 9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. 10 So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. 13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. 14 But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; 15 he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.
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36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
This psalm recounts the repeated sins of Israel, how they "sinned" (verse 6), and then when God saved them, they soon "forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel" (verse 13). The psalmist then makes the interesting comment that God gave them what they wanted, but rather than making them happy, they ended up with "a wasting disease" (verse 15). This idea is repeated later in verse 36 where it says that their idols "became a snare to them". Have you ever thought about what life would be like if you could have whatever you wanted? At first thought it seems wonderful, but if you dig deeper you may discover that our desires are not always good. Looking back, I'm thankful that God didn't give me all that I desired, as some of my desires were for selfish evil that would have ensnared me even deeper in sin. I would have ruined many lives besides my own if I had gotten everything I wanted. Sometimes God does give us what we ask for so that we can learn from our mistakes, but we'd be wise to be careful about what we ask for.
Lord, thank you for protecting me from my foolish desires.
6 Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. 7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. 8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power. 9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. 10 So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. 13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. 14 But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; 15 he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.
....
36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
This psalm recounts the repeated sins of Israel, how they "sinned" (verse 6), and then when God saved them, they soon "forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel" (verse 13). The psalmist then makes the interesting comment that God gave them what they wanted, but rather than making them happy, they ended up with "a wasting disease" (verse 15). This idea is repeated later in verse 36 where it says that their idols "became a snare to them". Have you ever thought about what life would be like if you could have whatever you wanted? At first thought it seems wonderful, but if you dig deeper you may discover that our desires are not always good. Looking back, I'm thankful that God didn't give me all that I desired, as some of my desires were for selfish evil that would have ensnared me even deeper in sin. I would have ruined many lives besides my own if I had gotten everything I wanted. Sometimes God does give us what we ask for so that we can learn from our mistakes, but we'd be wise to be careful about what we ask for.
Lord, thank you for protecting me from my foolish desires.