They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.
Psalm 106:13-15
This Psalm is a clarification of what really happened in the dessert between God and His people after He saved Him out of Egypt. Even though they kept rebelling against God especially with their slanderous words He saved them anyway for His Name’s sake. Even after that they soon forgot all He had done for them. They attacked the leadership placed over them. They even set up a new god while Moses was receiving the First Covenant! They continued to rebel by first refusing to enter the promised land then by going in when God told them they had to wait. After they finally made it to the Promised Land their history hardly became any better. First they followed Him then “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”. (Deuteronomy 12:8, Judges 17:6) This included Baal-worship among other lesser gods. He gave them over to the pagan peoples around them many times but they only learned their lesson for the short-term gain it caused them. Finally they rejected Messiah and opened the way for all of us to come freely to Jesus.
How were these people able to know God so practically, yet still “…they rebelled against His Spirit…” (Psalm 106:33) to bring His judgment on them? They were able because they were like us. Look at the passage again – they lusted after the things God was providing instead of knowing Him intimately. They received salvation from the Egyptians but not relationship with their God. No, Him they tested (provoked) with their constant complaining. The result was horrible. He gave them what they wanted but leanness He sent to their souls. The things couldn’t satisfy their souls.
We can do the same thing if we aren’t aware of our lusts. Our lusts can lead us to know God for the benefits instead of for having a relationship with Him. Their will be plenty of benefits from knowing Him but we can get our requests and not be satisfied in our souls because we do not know Him.
Save me Jesus, from worldly ways. Let me seek the Giver instead of the gift. Only You can lead me where you want me to go. At your right hand are the pleasures I need from knowing You. You are the Mighty One. May you be pleased with me. Keep leanness away from my soul – I will be satisfied with You alone.
Looking For Him,
Pastor Jason
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