Psalms 106:12-13
Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights how Israel's faith and praise were immediate, arising only in the moment of experiencing God's direct intervention. Their song wasn't a response to deep, settled trust, but a flash of belief born from seeing His power firsthand, a faith that would prove tragically fleeting.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness to God, even immediately after witnessing His miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea. The verses before this describe their initial fear and then their burst of faith and praise, as they sang Moses' song of thanksgiving. However, this brief moment of belief and joy, while astonishing, quickly faded, setting the stage for their subsequent grumbling and rebellion.
Why does the text highlight that belief and praise came 'then'?
The verse points to a faith that erupts in the moment, specifically when God’s power is on full display. It’s not a deep, abiding trust, but a reaction to immediate intervention.
Faith in the Face of Miracles
Think about the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. The waters part, they walk through on dry ground, and their enemies are destroyed. It's undeniable, overwhelming proof of God's power.
This 'belief' and 'praise' weren't born out of quiet contemplation or a settled understanding of God. They were born out of sheer, immediate experience. As one commentary notes, it was 'just while the miracle was before their eyes.' This kind of faith is powerful in its moment, but fragile.
What’s the difference between singing praise in the moment and living a life of praise?
The 'singing of praise' here is a direct, immediate response to God’s deliverance. It’s a beautiful, celebratory act, but the context of Psalm 106 reveals it was often short-lived.
The Echo of Moses' Song
This act of singing is a clear echo of the great victory song sung by Moses and the Israelites after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15). It was a song of triumph, acknowledging God’s might and faithfulness.
However, the psalm’s larger narrative shows that this joyful singing was often followed by forgetting and rebellion. This verse captures a high point, a moment of genuine gratitude, but it starkly contrasts with the people's subsequent forgetfulness. It highlights the human tendency to praise God when things are good but to drift away when the immediate threat or wonder fades.
Understand the original words
aman · Hebrew Verb
To have faith in, rely upon, or trust in the truthfulness of God's promise. In the Old Testament, it signifies entering into a firm, secure relationship with God based on His character.
ma'aseh · Hebrew Noun
Acts or deeds of God performed in history to deliver, sustain, or judge His people. These serve as objective evidence of His sovereignty, grace, and power.
etsah · Hebrew Noun
The divine wisdom, purpose, or instruction that God provides for His people. Failing to wait for this implies impatience and a refusal to trust in God's timing and guidance.
This verse captures a fleeting moment of faith and praise in the wilderness. It highlights how the Israelites, even after witnessing God's incredible power at the Red Sea, would soon falter, emphasizing their need for remembrance and God's enduring faithfulness.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Following God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Crossing the Red Sea
God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape Pharaoh's pursuing army, which is then destroyed.
c. 1446 BC
Song of Moses
Immediately after their deliverance, Moses and the Israelites sing a song of praise to God for their salvation and victory.
c. 1446 BC - 1406 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
Despite the initial faith and praise, the Israelites quickly forget God's mighty acts, leading to decades of wandering and testing in the wilderness.
This passage describes the very moment of Israel's deliverance at the Red Sea, showing that their faith and praise were a direct response to God's immediate, visible power, just as Psalm 106:12 suggests.
Exodus 15:1-21This is the 'Song of Moses' and the people of Israel, a powerful expression of praise and belief immediately following their miraculous escape from Egypt, mirroring the faith and song mentioned in Psalm 106:12.
Deuteronomy 1:31-33Here, Moses reminds Israel that even when God carried them through the wilderness, they still failed to trust Him. This highlights the pattern of temporary belief followed by forgetting, which Psalm 106:12 alludes to before detailing their subsequent failures.
Nehemiah 9:17This prayer of confession acknowledges that even after experiencing God's salvation and provision, the people still refused to obey and forgot His wondrous deeds, echoing the transient nature of the faith described in Psalm 106:12.
clarkePsalms 106:12: "Then believed they his words; they sang his praise."
Then believed they - Just while the miracle was before their eyes.
pulpitPsalms 106:12: "Then believed they his words; they sang his praise."
Verse 12. - Then believed they his words. So in Exodus 14:31, "The people feared the Lord and believed the Lord" - believed, that is, when they could no longer disbelieve. They sang his praise. The allusion is to the "Song of Moses" (Exodus 15:1-18), in which the Israelites generally joined (Exodus 15:1, 20).
This verse highlights how Israel's faith and praise were immediate, arising only in the moment of experiencing God's direct intervention. Their song wasn't a response to deep, settled trust, but a flash of belief born from seeing His power firsthand, a faith that would prove tragically fleeting.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness to God, even immediately after witnessing His miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea. The verses before this describe their initial fear and then their burst of faith and praise, as they sang Moses' song of thanksgiving. However, this brief moment of belief and joy, while astonishing, quickly faded, setting the stage for their subsequent grumbling and rebellion.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness to God, even immediately after witnessing His miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea. The verses before this describe their initial fear and then their burst of faith and praise, as they sang Moses' song of thanksgiving. However, this brief moment of belief and joy, while astonishing, quickly faded, setting the stage for their subsequent grumbling and rebellion.
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"Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel." — This verse highlights how Israel's faith and praise were immediate, arising only in the moment of experiencing God's direct intervention. Their song wasn't a response to deep, settled trust, but a…
