Psalms 106:13

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

They soon {H4116} forgat {H7911} his works {H4639}; they waited {H2442} not for his counsel {H6098}:

Complete Jewish Bible

But soon they forgot his deeds and wouldn't wait for his counsel.

Berean Standard Bible

Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel.

American Standard Version

They soon forgat his works; They waited not for his counsel,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 106:13 serves as a profound indictment of Israel's spiritual amnesia and impulsive disobedience, a recurring motif throughout their wilderness journey. Despite having just witnessed God's magnificent deliverance at the Red Sea, the people swiftly forgot His mighty acts and failed to patiently seek or trust in His divine counsel, opting instead for their own immediate desires and understanding. This verse encapsulates a foundational human tendency toward forgetfulness and impatience, setting the stage for a pattern of rebellion against God's faithfulness detailed throughout the psalm.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, a communal confession of Israel's persistent rebellion and God's enduring faithfulness. It functions as a lament, recounting the nation's history from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings, the conquest, the period of the judges, and into the monarchy, highlighting a cyclical pattern of sin, judgment, repentance, and deliverance. Verses 7-12 specifically detail the miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, where God demonstrated His overwhelming power and covenant loyalty by saving His people from the pursuing Egyptians and destroying their enemies. Immediately following this awe-inspiring display of divine might and salvation, verse 13 abruptly shifts to Israel's rapid lapse into forgetfulness and impatience, setting the stage for the subsequent accounts of their murmuring, idolatry, and rebellion throughout the wilderness narrative, which forms the bulk of the psalm's historical review.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events recounted in Psalm 106, particularly those surrounding verse 13, are deeply rooted in the historical period immediately following the Exodus from Egypt. Israel, having been miraculously freed from centuries of slavery, was now a nascent nation in the wilderness, under the direct leadership of God through Moses. They had entered into a covenant relationship with Yahweh at Sinai, where they pledged obedience to His laws and counsel. The expectation was that a people so uniquely delivered would exhibit unwavering trust and gratitude. However, the harsh realities of the wilderness—lack of water, food, and the uncertainty of their journey—quickly tested their faith. Culturally, ancient Near Eastern peoples often attributed natural phenomena to various deities, but Israel had witnessed a singular, powerful God acting on their behalf, demanding a unique response of remembrance and reliance that they failed to provide.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 106:13 introduces and reinforces several critical themes that permeate not only this psalm but also the broader biblical narrative. The primary theme is **forgetfulness and ingratitude**, where Israel's short-term memory regarding God's mighty "works" (deeds of power and salvation) leads to a profound lack of gratitude and trust, echoing the admonition in [Deuteronomy 8:11-14](/deuteronomy/8-11 "Deuteronomy 8:11-14 - Do Not Forget the Lord Your God"). This is closely linked to **impatience and a lack of trust in divine counsel**, as they "waited not for his counsel," demonstrating an unwillingness to rely on God's timing and wisdom, choosing instead immediate gratification or self-reliance, a pattern seen throughout the [wilderness narratives](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Israel's Rebellion and Punishment"). Furthermore, the verse highlights the **cycle of rebellion and divine long-suffering**, establishing a pattern where God delivers, Israel rebels, and God, in His steadfast love, eventually restores, a dynamic central to the entire [book of Judges](/judges/2 "Judges 2 - The Cycle of Apostasy").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Forgat (Hebrew, _shakach'_):** This Hebrew verb (שָׁכַח) means more than a simple lapse of memory; it implies a deliberate act of neglect, disregard, or even abandonment. It suggests a turning away from the significance and implications of God's past deeds. It's not merely that they couldn't recall; it's that they chose not to retain or live by the memory of His works, essentially dismissing their profound theological weight and the obligations they entailed. This spiritual amnesia led directly to their subsequent disobedience.
* **Waited not (Hebrew, _yachal'_):** The verb (יָחַל) means "to wait, to hope, to expect, to trust." In its negative form, as used here, it powerfully conveys impatience, a lack of hopeful expectation, and an unwillingness to trust in God's timing or His promised guidance. Instead of patiently seeking and relying on God's divine leading, they acted impulsively, driven by their immediate circumstances and desires, demonstrating a profound deficit of faith.
* **Counsel (Hebrew, _‘etsah'_):** This noun (עֵצָה) refers to advice, guidance, purpose, or a divine plan. It signifies God's wisdom and strategic direction for His people. Their failure to wait for His counsel implies a rejection of God's superior wisdom and sovereign plan in favor of their own limited understanding or short-sighted desires, effectively attempting to chart their own course rather than submitting to their divine leader.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They soon forgat his works;":** This clause immediately follows the description of God's mighty deliverance at the Red Sea. The adverb "soon" (מַהֵר, _maher_), though not explicitly in the KJV translation, is implied in the Hebrew context and emphasizes the astonishing speed with which Israel's memory of God's powerful acts faded. "His works" refers to the miraculous deeds of salvation and provision God had just performed (e.g., the plagues, the Exodus, the Red Sea crossing). The act of "forgetting" here is not merely a cognitive failure but a moral and spiritual one—a failure to internalize, appreciate, and respond appropriately to God's profound demonstration of power and faithfulness. It signifies a profound ingratitude and a disregard for the covenant relationship.
* **"they waited not for his counsel:":** This second clause describes the direct consequence of their forgetfulness. Because they failed to remember God's character and past actions, they also failed to trust in His ongoing guidance. "Waited not" highlights their impatience and lack of faith, indicating an unwillingness to pause, seek God's direction, and rely on His wisdom. "His counsel" refers to God's divine guidance, plans, and instructions, which He had promised to provide (e.g., through Moses, the cloud by day and fire by night). Their refusal to wait for His counsel meant they acted impulsively, relying on their own flawed judgment or succumbing to fear and doubt, rather than submitting to the perfect will of their Deliverer.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 106:13 employs several potent literary devices to underscore its message. **Irony** is prominent, as the people who had just been miraculously delivered from the most powerful empire of their day by an unprecedented display of divine power immediately turn around and forget the very God who saved them. This stark contrast between God's magnificent "works" and Israel's rapid spiritual amnesia creates a powerful sense of the absurd and tragic. There is also a strong element of **Contrast** between God's active, powerful intervention (His "works") and Israel's passive, faithless inaction ("waited not"). This highlights the disparity between divine faithfulness and human unfaithfulness. Furthermore, the verse functions as a **Foreshadowing** device within the psalm, introducing a recurring pattern of rebellion and divine long-suffering that will be elaborated upon throughout the subsequent historical review, establishing a cyclical narrative structure.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 106:13 is a theological anchor, revealing the persistent tension between God's steadfast love and humanity's inherent propensity for forgetfulness and rebellion. It underscores the critical importance of remembrance in maintaining a vibrant faith, demonstrating that spiritual amnesia directly leads to a lack of trust and a rejection of divine guidance. The verse highlights God's character as both a powerful deliverer and a patient counselor, whose wisdom is to be sought and waited upon. It also implicitly points to the necessity of a transformed heart, as mere observation of miracles is insufficient to produce lasting obedience without an internal commitment to remember and trust. This human failure to remember and wait sets the stage for God's ongoing, often painful, work of discipline and restoration, always rooted in His covenant faithfulness.

* [Deuteronomy 8:11-14](/deuteronomy/8-11 "Deuteronomy 8:11-14 - Warning Against Forgetting God")
* [Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5 "Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord")
* [Hebrews 3:7-11](/hebrews/3-7 "Hebrews 3:7-11 - Warning Against Hardening Hearts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 106:13 serves as a timeless mirror for believers across generations, exposing the human tendency to quickly forget God's past faithfulness and to grow impatient in waiting for His perfect counsel. In a world that often demands instant gratification and encourages self-reliance, this verse calls us to a profound spiritual discipline: the cultivation of remembrance and patient trust. We are prone to spiritual amnesia when faced with new challenges, allowing present difficulties to overshadow past deliverances. Therefore, it is imperative to intentionally recall and meditate on God's "works" in our lives—His specific acts of provision, protection, and guidance—and in the grand narrative of salvation history. This practice fosters a deep sense of gratitude and reinforces our confidence in His unchanging character. Furthermore, the verse challenges our impatience, urging us to resist the urge to rush ahead in our own strength or understanding. Instead, we are called to diligently seek God's "counsel" through prayer, diligent study of His Word, and wise spiritual guidance, trusting that His timing and His plan are always superior, even when they require extended periods of waiting. Learning from Israel's mistakes, we are encouraged to break the cycle of forgetfulness and impulsive action, embracing a posture of humble dependence and patient expectation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "works" of God in your own life or in the history of salvation do you most easily forget when facing current challenges?**
* **In what areas of your life do you struggle most with impatience, failing to "wait for His counsel"?**
* **How can you more intentionally cultivate a spirit of remembrance and gratitude for God's past faithfulness?**
* **What practical steps can you take to more consistently seek and submit to God's counsel in your daily decisions?**

### FAQ
**What does "soon forgat his works" imply beyond simple memory loss?**

Answer: The phrase "soon forgat his works" (Hebrew, _shakach_) implies much more than a mere lapse of memory. It signifies a profound spiritual and moral failure—a deliberate neglect, disregard, or even abandonment of the significance of God's mighty acts. It suggests that Israel chose not to internalize or live by the implications of God's powerful deliverance and provision. This forgetfulness was not passive but active, leading directly to a failure of gratitude, trust, and obedience. It indicates a turning away from the very foundation of their relationship with God, as seen in the broader context of [Deuteronomy 6:10-12](/deuteronomy/6-10 "Deuteronomy 6:10-12 - Warning Against Forgetting God").

**How does "they waited not for his counsel" relate to the broader theme of trust in God?**

Answer: "They waited not for his counsel" (Hebrew, _yachal_ in the negative) directly highlights a fundamental lack of trust in God's wisdom, timing, and sovereign plan. To "wait" on God implies patient reliance, hopeful expectation, and submission to His guidance. By not waiting, Israel demonstrated an unwillingness to trust that God knew what was best for them or that He would provide at the appropriate time. Instead, they acted impulsively, driven by their own fears, desires, or limited understanding, rather than seeking and submitting to the perfect "counsel" (Hebrew, _‘etsah_) of their divine leader. This impatience is a recurring theme of distrust throughout the wilderness narrative, contrasting sharply with the call to [trust in the Lord with all your heart](/proverbs/3-5 "Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 106:13, with its lament over Israel's forgetfulness and impatience, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Where Israel failed to remember God's works and waited not for His counsel, Jesus perfectly embodied remembrance and submission. He consistently remembered the Father's will and works, declaring, "I always do what pleases him" ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Pleases the Father")). Unlike Israel, who murmured for food and water, Jesus patiently waited on the Father's timing and provision, even when hungry in the wilderness ([Matthew 4:1-4](/matthew/4-1 "Matthew 4:1-4 - Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness")). He is the true Israelite, the faithful Son who perfectly trusted and obeyed God's counsel, even to the point of death on a cross, praying, "Not my will, but yours be done" ([Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Luke 22:42 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). Through His perfect obedience, Christ fulfills the covenant that Israel continually broke. Furthermore, Jesus, as the ultimate "work" of God, is the one whom humanity must never forget. His redemptive act on the cross is the supreme demonstration of God's power and love, the ultimate "work" that secures our salvation. By remembering Him and trusting in His finished work, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome the very forgetfulness and impatience that plagued ancient Israel, enabling us to walk in newness of life, patiently waiting for His return and living by His perfect counsel ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 15:24

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

Psalms 78:11

And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

Exodus 16:2

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

Isaiah 48:17

Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I [am] the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way [that] thou shouldest go.

Isaiah 48:18

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

Proverbs 1:25

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Psalms 107:11

Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: