Psalms 106:21-22
They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse reveals that forgetting God isn't just about missing a few miracles; it's about forgetting who He is – their Savior. The emphasis is on His saving power demonstrated in Egypt, which they then disregarded as they continued to struggle.
This passage occurs in a long lament by the Psalmist recounting Israel's history of sin and God's faithfulness. It follows a recitation of God's mighty acts, particularly the Exodus from Egypt, and precedes further examples of their disobedience and rebellion in the wilderness. The focus is on the people's profound ingratitude, immediately after experiencing God's powerful deliverance.
Have you ever been so caught up in the moment that you forgot something important? For the Israelites, forgetting God wasn't an accident—it was a choice that had profound consequences.
This verse hits hard because it describes a willful act: 'They forgot God.' It wasn't a passive lapse of memory. Think of it like this: When you're in a tough spot, God's intervention feels immediate and undeniable. But as life gets easier, the sharp edges of those past experiences can dull. The psalm highlights that this forgetting wasn't about a lack of evidence; the 'great things in Egypt' were unforgettable moments of deliverance.
This forgetfulness is a recurring theme, appearing earlier in verse 13. It’s a deliberate turning away from the source of their salvation. The choice to forget God is a choice to rely on something else – their own strength, their circumstances, or new, tempting alternatives.
The 'great things' God did in Egypt weren't just a show of power; they were deeply personal acts of salvation meant to secure His people.
When the psalm mentions 'great things in Egypt,' it's not just referring to the plagues or the parting of the Red Sea. These were monumental events, yes, but they stemmed from God's deep commitment to His covenant people.
Think of the Exodus narrative: God heard their cries, remembered His promises, and acted decisively. He didn't just display power; He delivered them from brutal slavery, defeated their oppressors, and led them to freedom. These weren't random occurrences; they were purposeful acts demonstrating His faithfulness and His desire to rescue and redeem.
The danger for the Israelites was reducing these 'great things' to mere historical events, detached from the living God who performed them. When we do the same – remembering the 'good things' God has done without connecting them to His character and ongoing presence – we risk the same spiritual amnesia.
Understand the original words
shakach · Hebrew Verb
The act of failing to keep in memory or losing from one's mind, often implying a willful neglect of God's character, commandments, or redemptive acts toward His people.
yasha' · Hebrew Noun
One who delivers, rescues, or preserves from danger, bondage, or destruction; applied primarily to God as the sole deliverer of His people.
niphla'oth · Hebrew Noun
Acts of divine power that evoke wonder, amazement, or fear; specifically refers to miraculous displays of God’s sovereignty in history.
Cham · Hebrew Proper Noun
A poetic name for Egypt, linked to Ham, the son of Noah, reflecting the geographical and ancestral origins of the Egyptian people.
This verse comes from a psalm reflecting on Israel's repeated unfaithfulness. The 'great things in Egypt' refer to the foundational Exodus, yet the psalm's context, likely during or after the exile, highlights how Israel consistently forgot these divine acts, leading to their repeated cycles of sin and judgment.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israel's Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivered the Israelites from centuries of slavery in Egypt, demonstrating His power through the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.
c. 1446 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
After their liberation, the Israelites journeyed through the Sinai wilderness, a period marked by both God's provision and the people's frequent grumbling and disobedience.
c. 1400s BC
Conquest of Canaan
The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, entered and began conquering the Promised Land, displacing the existing inhabitants.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy (Saul, David, Solomon)
The establishment of a united kingdom under kings Saul, David, and Solomon, marked by significant growth and religious development, including the building of the Temple.
This verse describes the immediate aftermath of the Red Sea crossing, where Israel's fear led them to forget God's power, mirroring the forgetfulness mentioned in Psalms 106:21.
Deuteronomy 6:12This passage is a direct warning against forgetting God and His mighty deeds, particularly after He has delivered them, highlighting the same theme of ingratitude and forgetfulness found in Psalms 106:21.
Psalms 78:11This verse directly parallels Psalms 106:21 by recounting how the Israelites forgot God's works and wonders, emphasizing the recurring pattern of their forgetfulness.
Nehemiah 9:17This passage, part of a prayer of confession, also recalls how Israel forgot God's wondrous works and rebelled against His statutes, echoing the sentiment of Psalms 106:21.
pulpitPsalms 106:21: "They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;"
Verse 21. - They forgat God their Saviour (comp. ver. 13). "God their Saviour" is "God who had so recently saved them out of the hands of Pharaoh." Which had done great things in Egypt. The allusion is principally to the long series of "plagues."
ellicottPsalms 106:21: "They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;"
(21) Forgot God their saviour. —With evident allusion to Deuteronomy 6:12 .
This verse reveals that forgetting God isn't just about missing a few miracles; it's about forgetting who He is – their Savior. The emphasis is on His saving power demonstrated in Egypt, which they then disregarded as they continued to struggle.
This passage occurs in a long lament by the Psalmist recounting Israel's history of sin and God's faithfulness. It follows a recitation of God's mighty acts, particularly the Exodus from Egypt, and precedes further examples of their disobedience and rebellion in the wilderness. The focus is on the people's profound ingratitude, immediately after experiencing God's powerful deliverance.
This passage occurs in a long lament by the Psalmist recounting Israel's history of sin and God's faithfulness. It follows a recitation of God's mighty acts, particularly the Exodus from Egypt, and precedes further examples of their disobedience and rebellion in the wilderness. The focus is on the people's profound ingratitude, immediately after experiencing God's powerful deliverance.
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c. 931 BC
Divided Kingdom
Following Solomon's reign, the kingdom split into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah was conquered by Babylon, its Temple destroyed, and many of its people exiled to Babylon.
"They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea." — This verse reveals that forgetting God isn't just about missing a few miracles; it's about forgetting who He is – their Savior. The emphasis is on His saving power demonstrated in Egypt, which they…
