Psalm 106 13

Psalm 106:13 kjv

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

Psalm 106:13 nkjv

They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel,

Psalm 106:13 niv

But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.

Psalm 106:13 esv

But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

Psalm 106:13 nlt

Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done!
They wouldn't wait for his counsel!

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 13 Meaning

Psalm 106:13 highlights Israel's rapid spiritual deterioration immediately following profound divine intervention. It states that the Israelites "soon forgot His works," meaning they quickly dismissed or failed to internalize the powerful, miraculous deeds God had performed on their behalf, such as the plagues in Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea. Consequently, this spiritual amnesia led them to not "wait for His counsel." Instead of patiently seeking or adhering to God's divine wisdom, guidance, and timing, they impetuously acted upon their own desires or fears, demonstrating a lack of trust and dependence on their faithful God.

Psalm 106 13 Context

Psalm 106 is a national confessional lament that recounts the tumultuous history of Israel from their exodus out of Egypt through various rebellions in the wilderness and the period of judges and kings. It's a candid confession of their persistent unfaithfulness, often juxtaposed with God's steadfast mercy. Verse 13 is strategically placed early in this historical overview, pinpointing one of Israel's initial and foundational failures shortly after experiencing God's profound deliverance. The immediate historical context refers to events after the Red Sea parting and before the giving of the Law at Sinai and the beginning of the forty years in the wilderness. Having witnessed astounding miracles like the plagues against Egypt and their miraculous passage through the Red Sea, this generation of Israelites quickly succumbed to doubt, murmuring, and impatience when faced with new challenges, leading to actions contrary to God's intended path.

Psalm 106 13 Word analysis

• They: Refers to the collective body of Israelites, particularly the generation delivered from Egyptian bondage. This highlights a national, rather than isolated, spiritual failure.

• soon (מַהֵר - maher): An adverb meaning "quickly," "hastily," or "swiftly." This term emphasizes the startling rapidity with which they abandoned their awe and gratitude for God's deeds. It denotes a superficial understanding and commitment, revealing a shallow spiritual foundation that allowed present discomforts to immediately eclipse recent divine marvels.

• forgot (שָׁכַח - shakhach): A verb indicating not merely a lapse in memory, but a deeper spiritual negligence, an active disregarding or rejection. It implies that despite directly witnessing God's overwhelming power and love, they chose not to retain or live by the memory of these acts. This forgetfulness was not incidental but often stemmed from unbelief or a self-serving focus, signifying a serious spiritual detachment.

• His works (מַעֲשָׂיו - ma'asayw): Plural noun referring to God's powerful acts, miracles, and interventions, specifically the awe-inspiring deeds performed to deliver Israel from Egypt (e.g., the plagues, the Passover, the Red Sea parting, providing manna and water in the wilderness). Forgetting these works meant dismissing the very evidence of God's power, faithfulness, and unique covenant relationship with them.

• They did not wait (לֹא־חִכּוּ - lo'-chikku): This phrase combines the negative particle 'lo' (not) with the verb from chakhah, meaning "to wait," "to tarry," "to hope patiently." This points to a failure of patience and trust. Instead of trusting God's perfect timing and provision, they demonstrated impetuosity and a desire for immediate gratification, often leading them to take matters into their own hands. It represents a proactive act of disobedience.

• for His counsel (לַעֲצָתוֹ - la'atzato): "Counsel" (etzah) denotes God's divine wisdom, His strategic plan, His perfect guidance, His revealed will (such as the Law or specific instructions for their journey), and His providential direction. Not waiting for His counsel signifies a rejection of God's authority and wisdom, opting instead for their own flawed understanding, impulses, or human-devised solutions, thereby charting a course outside of God's perfect will.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "They soon forgot His works": This group highlights the fragility of superficial faith. The Israelites, though having just seen unparalleled divine intervention, allowed their gratitude and remembrance to fade with astounding speed. This emphasizes how easily the human heart can turn from divine awe to mundane anxieties or desires, even after experiencing tremendous spiritual blessings.
  • "They did not wait for His counsel": This second clause explains the natural consequence of the first. When the memory of God's power and faithfulness diminishes, so does trust in His wisdom and willingness to wait for His guidance. It illustrates how impatience and a reliance on human logic or desire take root when divine works are forgotten. This act reveals a deep-seated spiritual independence from God's leading, preferring self-reliance to submission.

Psalm 106 13 Bonus section

• The rapidity signified by "soon" (מַהֵר) highlights the shallowness of Israel's initial faith experience. It was perhaps more external (seeing signs) than internal (a heart transformation). This links to the parable of the sower where seeds falling on rocky ground sprout "quickly" but have "no deep root" (Matt 13:5-6; Mk 4:5-6).
• The progression is crucial: forgetting God's past acts (memory and gratitude failure) leads directly to an inability or unwillingness to trust Him for future direction (willful disobedience and impatience). This shows a critical interdependency between recalling His character and depending on His counsel.
• The word for "counsel" (עֵצָה) can also refer to God's purpose or predetermined plan. Thus, "not waiting for His counsel" implies an active resistance not just to specific advice, but to His entire providential plan for their lives and the nation. They desired their own plan over His.
• This verse underpins a key biblical teaching: God expects His people to learn from their history, especially His interventions, to cultivate enduring faith and patient obedience. Failure to do so leads to repetitive cycles of sin and judgment.

Psalm 106 13 Commentary

Psalm 106:13 encapsulates a recurring tragic pattern in the spiritual life of Israel, and indeed of humanity. It pinpoints the critical failures of swift forgetfulness and impatient unbelief that immediately followed the Lord's most astounding displays of power and love. "They soon forgot His works" exposes a shocking spiritual amnesia. It wasn't just a mental oversight, but a heart issue—a deliberate turning away or failure to deeply embed the reality of God's delivering power into their consciousness. The Israelites, fresh from witnessing the Red Sea parting and the annihilation of their oppressors, allowed subsequent discomforts or unmet expectations to quickly overshadow these undeniable proofs of God's omnipotence and faithfulness. This swift decay in remembrance directly led to their refusal to "wait for His counsel." Their impatience and lack of trust manifested in murmuring, rebellion, and impulsive actions, demonstrating a fundamental rejection of God's wisdom, timing, and authoritative guidance. Instead of submitting to God's perfect plan, they leaned on their own limited understanding or immediate desires, seeking self-determined solutions rather than divine direction. This verse serves as a timeless warning that even profound spiritual experiences do not guarantee enduring faith if hearts quickly forget God's past mercies and consequently fail to lean patiently on His ongoing counsel. True faith requires both remembrance of God's history of faithfulness and a patient, trusting dependence on His future guidance.

Examples:

• Murmuring about lack of food after miraculous deliverance (Exod 16).
• Demanding a king to be like other nations instead of waiting for God's divine order (1 Sam 8).
• Trying to solve a problem with human strength or wisdom instead of praying and waiting for God's intervention.