Psalms 106:24-48

Yet they still didn’t believe your words and they despised the land of delight you gave to them. They grumbled and found fault with everything and closed their hearts to your voice. So you solemnly swore to them that they would all die in the desert. And you scattered their children to distant lands to die as exiles. Then our fathers joined the worshipers of the false god named “Lord of the Pit.” They even ate the sacrifices offered to the dead! All they did made you burn with anger. It made you so angry that a plague broke out among them! It continued until Phineas intervened and executed the guilty for causing judgment to fall upon them. Because of this deed of righteousness Phineas will be remembered forever. Your people also provoked you to wrath at the stream called Strife. This is where Moses got into serious trouble! Because the people were rebellious against you, Moses exploded in anger and spoke to them out of his bitterness. Neither did our fathers destroy the enemies in the land, as you had commanded them. But they mingled themselves with their enemies and learned to copy their works of darkness. They began to serve their gods and bow before their idols. All of this led them away from you and brought about their downfall. They even sacrificed their little children to the demon spirits, shedding the innocent blood of their sons and daughters. These dark practices greatly defiled the land and their own souls, through the murder and bloodshed of their own babies! Their sins made them spiritual adulterers before you. This is why you were furious. As your anger burned hot against them, you couldn’t even stand to look at your very own people any longer! So you turned them over to the crushing hands of other nations, and those who hated them became tyrants over them. Oppressive enemies subdued them, ruling over them with their tyranny. Many times you would have come to rescue them, but they continued in their rebellious ways, choosing to ignore your warnings. Then they sank lower and lower, destroyed by their depravity. Yet even so, you waited and waited, watching to see if they would turn and cry out to you for a father’s help. And then, when you heard their cry, you relented and you remembered your covenant, and you turned your heart toward them again, according to your abundant, overflowing, and limitless love. Then you caused even their oppressors to pity them and show them compassion. Do it again, Lord! Save us, O Lord, our God! Gather us from our exile and unite us together so that we will give our great and joyous thanks to you again and bring you glory by our praises. Blessed be our Lord God forever and ever. And let everyone everywhere say, “Hallelujah!” Amen! Faithful is our King!