God Would Destroy Them - Psalms 106:23

In Psalms one hundred six the Psalmist said the people of Israel, “forgot God their savior, which had done great things in Egypt. Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea”, and in chapter one hundred six and verse twenty-three of Psalms the Psalmist shared how Jehovah God, “said that he would destroy them” where we read,

Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

The verse begins, “Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, ...” The Psalmist began with the words, “therefore he said” or “then, wherefore and on this account he, Jehovah God, uttered, declared and proclaimed” “that he would destroy them” which means “that he, Jehovah God, would exterminate, annihilate and devastate them, the people of Israel”, “had not Moses his chosen” or “if Moses whose name means drawing out and was the prophet, lawgiver and leader of the exodus, his, Jehovah God's, elected and selected one” “stood before him” which means “remained, endured and took their stand in front and in the presence of him, Jehovah God” “in the breach” or “within the gap, bursting forth and outburst”. (See Exodus 32:10-11, 32) The Psalmist referred to the way Jehovah God declared that He would exterminate the people of Israel if “Moses” had not intervened on their behalf.

The verse continues, “... to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.” The Psalmist added the words, “to turn away his wrath” or “to requite, hinder and reverse his, Jehovah God's, heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation and anger”, “lest he should destroy them” which means “unless or in case he, Jehovah God, should exterminate, annihilate and devastate the people of Israel”. The Psalmist said “Moses” desired to reverse the anger of Jehovah God against the people of Israel which would cause Him to eliminate them.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how the Psalmist referred to Jehovah God's desire to exterminate the people of Israel. They rebelled against Him. They “forgot” His marvelous works performed among them, and they rejected Him from being their God. If “Moses” had not intervened, the people of Israel would have been gone. God's desire is to have a personal, intimate relationship with every person, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and turn away His wrath from us as we continue our fellowship and communion with Him.

Next time the Psalmist shares how the people of Israel, “believed not his word”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".