Psalms 106:43

KJV

Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked [him] with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

KJV (with Strong's)

Many {H7227} times {H6471} did he deliver {H5337} them; but they provoked {H4784} him with their counsel {H6098}, and were brought low {H4355} for their iniquity {H5771}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Many times [God] rescued them, but they kept making plans to rebel. Thus they were brought low by their own wrongdoing.

Berean Standard Bible

Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.

American Standard Version

Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 106:43 offers a poignant summation of Israel's historical relationship with God, characterized by a recurring tension between divine faithfulness and human rebellion. Despite God's repeated acts of miraculous deliverance, His people consistently chose to follow their own flawed wisdom, provoking Him through their disobedience. This persistent iniquity inevitably led to periods of humbling and suffering, demonstrating the cyclical nature of sin, judgment, and God's enduring, yet often challenged, commitment to His covenant people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 106 is the final psalm of Book IV of the Psalter, serving as a lengthy communal confession and a historical lament. It meticulously recounts Israel's chronic unfaithfulness from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings, the period of the Judges, and into the monarchy, detailing their provocations against God. Verse 43 functions as a climactic summary statement within this historical review, encapsulating the cyclical pattern of God's gracious interventions ("Many times did he deliver them") met by Israel's persistent rebellion ("but they provoked him with their counsel") and the subsequent, inevitable consequences ("and were brought low for their iniquity"). The psalm as a whole sets the stage for a plea for mercy and restoration, acknowledging God's steadfast love (Hebrew: *hesed*) even in the face of persistent human failure, a theme that echoes throughout the historical books like [the cycle of apostasy in Judges](/judges/2 "Judges 2 - The Cycle of Apostasy") and [Nehemiah's prayer of confession](/nehemiah/9 "Nehemiah 9 - A Prayer of Confession and God's Faithfulness").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The psalm spans centuries of Israelite history, from their miraculous liberation from Egyptian bondage (referenced in [Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Crossing of the Red Sea")) to their settlement in Canaan and subsequent periods of apostasy and oppression. The phrase "provoked him with their counsel" reflects a deep-seated cultural tendency to rely on human wisdom or the counsel of surrounding nations rather than divine instruction, a pattern evident in the wilderness generation's murmuring and rebellion (e.g., [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - The Rebellion at Kadesh Barnea")) and the later desire for a king "like all the nations" ([1 Samuel 8:5](/1_samuel/8-5 "1 Samuel 8:5 - Israel Demands a King")). The "being brought low" often refers to periods of subjugation by foreign powers or internal strife, which were understood as divine judgment for covenant infidelity, a recurring theme in the Deuteronomistic history.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes of the psalm and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Deliverance**, underscoring God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people despite their failings, consistently acting to rescue them from various perils. Secondly, it confronts **Human Rebellion and Stubbornness**, demonstrating Israel's persistent inclination to disregard God's commands and follow their own flawed "counsel" or the advice of others, which fundamentally constitutes a rejection of divine authority. Thirdly, the verse illustrates the **Consequences of Sin**, emphasizing that disobedience inevitably leads to humiliation, weakness, and suffering, often at the hands of their enemies, a principle consistently taught throughout Scripture (e.g., [the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). Finally, the very existence of repeated deliverance, despite repeated provocation, underscores God's profound **Patience and Mercy**, demonstrating His readiness to forgive and restore when His people genuinely repent.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Provoked (Hebrew, _mârâh'_):** This verb signifies acting stubbornly, rebelliously, or bitterly against authority. It implies a deliberate and often defiant act of disobedience, not merely an accidental transgression. In the context of the covenant, it represents a direct challenge to God's sovereignty and His revealed will, indicating a hardened heart and a refusal to submit to divine guidance, leading to a state of bitter opposition.
* **Counsel (Hebrew, _'êtsâh'_):** More than just advice, *'êtsâh* refers to deliberate plans, schemes, or strategies. When Israel "provoked him with their counsel," it means they actively devised and pursued courses of action that were contrary to God's revealed will and wisdom, choosing their own human reasoning over divine instruction. This highlights their self-sufficiency and rejection of God's superior guidance, often leading to perverse outcomes.
* **Brought low (Hebrew, _mâkak'_):** This term denotes being humbled, weakened, made poor, or brought to a state of abject distress. It describes the inevitable outcome of their rebellion – a loss of status, strength, and well-being, akin to tumbling into ruins or decay. This was not arbitrary punishment but the natural consequence of their "iniquity," leading to vulnerability and suffering, often at the hands of their enemies or through internal strife.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Many times did he deliver them":** This opening clause immediately establishes God's character as a faithful, compassionate, and active deliverer. It emphasizes the sheer frequency and consistency of His saving acts throughout Israel's history, highlighting His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises despite the people's shortcomings. This sets up a stark contrast with the subsequent actions of Israel.
* **"but they provoked [him] with their counsel":** The conjunction "but" introduces a dramatic and tragic counterpoint to God's benevolence. "They provoked him" points to Israel's willful and rebellious attitude, directly offending God. The phrase "with their counsel" specifies the nature of their provocation: it was not merely impulsive sin, but a deliberate choice to follow their own plans and wisdom, which diverged from God's perfect guidance and revealed law, demonstrating a profound lack of trust and obedience.
* **"and were brought low for their iniquity":** This final clause articulates the inevitable consequence of their rebellion. Their "iniquity" (Hebrew: *'âvôn*, meaning perversity, guilt, or punishment for crooked behavior) led directly to their humiliation, weakness, and suffering. This outcome was a divine judgment, a natural outworking of their sinful choices, demonstrating that while God is merciful, He is also just, and disobedience carries tangible, often painful, repercussions.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 106:43 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Contrast**, setting God's repeated acts of deliverance against Israel's persistent provocation and subsequent humbling. This stark juxtaposition underscores the depth of God's *hesed* (steadfast love) and the stubbornness of human sin. There is also a strong element of **Cyclical Narrative**, as this verse summarizes a pattern of sin, judgment, and deliverance that repeats throughout Israel's history, as detailed in the preceding verses of the psalm. Furthermore, the phrase "their counsel" can be seen as a form of **Synecdoche**, where "counsel" represents not just their plans but their entire rebellious mindset and rejection of God's wisdom, embodying their self-reliance and spiritual blindness. The verse functions as a powerful **Summary Statement**, distilling centuries of complex history into a concise, impactful declaration.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the tension between divine grace and human responsibility. It underscores God's unwavering faithfulness and patience, even when confronted with persistent human rebellion. The repeated acts of deliverance testify to God's covenant commitment and His desire for His people's flourishing. However, it equally highlights the severe consequences of choosing human wisdom over divine counsel, demonstrating that sin, as a deliberate act of provocation against God, inevitably leads to a state of being "brought low." This theological truth is not merely about punishment but about the inherent self-destructive nature of sin, which alienates humanity from the source of life and blessing. The verse serves as a powerful reminder that while God's mercy is boundless, it does not negate the reality of consequences for unrepentant disobedience, urging a posture of humility and dependence on divine wisdom.

* [Deuteronomy 8:11](/deuteronomy/8-11 "Deuteronomy 8:11 - Do Not Forget the Lord")
* [Hebrews 3:7-11](/hebrews/3-7 "Hebrews 3:7-11 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts")
* [Romans 5:20](/romans/5-20 "Romans 5:20 - Where Sin Increased, Grace Abounded")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 106:43 serves as a timeless mirror for both individuals and communities of faith. It compels us to honestly examine our own lives for recurring patterns where, despite God's abundant grace and repeated deliverances, we might still choose to follow our own "counsel" rather than His. This verse challenges the subtle pride that leads us to believe our plans are superior or our independence is preferable to divine guidance. It reminds us that spiritual "low points" or seasons of struggle are often the direct, though sometimes delayed, consequences of our own iniquity and stubbornness. Yet, within this sobering truth, there is also profound hope: God's character as a deliverer remains constant. Our recognition of this pattern should not lead to despair but to genuine repentance and a renewed commitment to trust and obey Him, knowing that His mercy is always available to those who turn back to Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life have I experienced God's repeated deliverance, yet still found myself returning to old patterns of "counsel" or self-reliance?**
* **What specific "counsel" or wisdom am I currently following that might be subtly provoking God or leading me away from His best for my life?**
* **How does the concept of being "brought low for their iniquity" manifest in my own experience or the experience of my community, and what is my response to it?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper dependence on God's wisdom and guidance, rather than leaning on my own understanding, as a practical step of obedience?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean that Israel "provoked" God, and how is that relevant today?**

Answer: To "provoke" God, as used in Psalms 106:43, means to act in a way that angers or offends Him, specifically through stubborn rebellion and disobedience. It implies a willful defiance of His authority and covenant commands, often by choosing one's own "counsel" or wisdom over His. For ancient Israel, this included idolatry, murmuring against His provisions, and rejecting His appointed leaders. Today, this is highly relevant. While we are under the new covenant, the principle remains: when believers deliberately choose to live according to their own desires or the world's wisdom, rather than submitting to God's revealed will in Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit, they "provoke" Him. This isn't about God being easily offended, but about the seriousness of rejecting the loving authority of our Creator and Redeemer (see [Ephesians 4:30](/ephesians/4-30 "Ephesians 4:30 - Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit")). It’s a call to examine our hearts for areas of self-will and disobedience.

**Is being "brought low" always a direct punishment from God?**

Answer: The phrase "brought low for their iniquity" certainly implies a consequence or judgment for sin. In the Old Testament, God often used external circumstances—like oppression by enemies or famine—to bring His people to a place of humility and repentance (e.g., the cycle in [the book of Judges](/judges/3 "Judges 3 - The Cycle of Oppression and Deliverance")). However, "brought low" can also describe the natural, often self-inflicted, degradation that results from sinful choices. Sin inherently diminishes and enslaves; it leads to spiritual, emotional, and sometimes physical poverty. So, while God can directly intervene with disciplinary action, much of being "brought low" is the inevitable fruit of living contrary to His design. It is a sobering reminder that "whatever one sows, that will he also reap" ([Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - The Law of Sowing and Reaping")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 106:43, with its stark portrayal of Israel's cyclical sin and God's persistent deliverance, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament narrative is a testament to humanity's inability to break free from the cycle of "provoking" God with "their counsel" and being "brought low for their iniquity." This recurring failure highlights the desperate need for a perfect deliverer and a new covenant. Jesus, as the true Israel, perfectly embodies the obedience that Israel failed to maintain. He never "provoked" God with His own counsel but always did the will of His Father ([John 6:38](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus Does the Father's Will")). His perfect life and atoning death on the cross address the "iniquity" that brought humanity low, offering a final and complete deliverance from sin's power and consequences ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love Demonstrated")). Through faith in Him, believers are not merely rescued temporarily but are given a new heart and the indwelling Holy Spirit, enabling them to walk in God's statutes and break free from the old pattern of rebellion ([Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26-27 - A New Heart and Spirit")). Thus, the repeated deliverances in the psalm foreshadow the singular, decisive, and eternal deliverance accomplished by the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), establishing a new covenant where God's people are truly transformed and empowered to live in faithful obedience, no longer brought low by their own iniquity.

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

Judges 2:16

Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

Judges 2:18

And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

Psalms 81:12

So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: [and] they walked in their own counsels.

Psalms 1:1

¶ Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

1 Samuel 12:9

And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

1 Samuel 12:11

And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

Psalms 106:29

Thus they provoked [him] to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.