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Psalms 106:17-33

Psalms 106:13-33 The Message (MSG)

But it wasn’t long before they forgot the whole thing, wouldn’t wait to be told what to do. They only cared about pleasing themselves in that desert, provoked God with their insistent demands. He gave them exactly what they asked for— but along with it they got an empty heart. One day in camp some grew jealous of Moses, also of Aaron, holy priest of GOD. The ground opened and swallowed Dathan, then buried Abiram’s gang. Fire flared against that rebel crew and torched them to a cinder. They cast in metal a bull calf at Horeb and worshiped the statue they’d made. They traded the Glory for a cheap piece of sculpture—a grass-chewing bull! They forgot God, their very own Savior, who turned things around in Egypt, Who created a world of wonders in the Land of Ham, who gave that stunning performance at the Red Sea. Fed up, God decided to get rid of them— and except for Moses, his chosen, he would have. But Moses stood in the gap and deflected God’s anger, prevented it from destroying them utterly. They went on to reject the Blessed Land, didn’t believe a word of what God promised. They found fault with the life they had and turned a deaf ear to GOD’s voice. Exasperated, God swore that he’d lay them low in the desert, Scattering their children here and there, strewing them all over the earth. Then they linked up with Baal Peor, attending funeral banquets and eating idol food. That made God so angry that a plague spread through their ranks; Phinehas stood up and pled their case and the plague was stopped. This was counted to his credit; his descendants will never forget it. They angered God again at Meribah Springs; this time Moses got mixed up in their evil; Because they defied GOD yet again, Moses exploded and lost his temper.

Psalms 106:17-33 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Therefore the earth opened and swallowed Dathan, And engulfed the company of Abiram. [Num 16:31, 32] And a fire broke out in their company; The flame consumed the wicked. [Num 16:35, 46] ¶They made a calf in Horeb (Sinai) And worshiped a cast image. [Ex 32:4] Thus they exchanged [the true God who was] their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, Who had done such great things in Egypt, Wonders in the land of Ham, Awesome things at the Red Sea. Therefore He said He would destroy them, [And He would have done so] had not Moses, His chosen one, stepped into the gap before Him, To turn away His wrath from destroying them. [Ex 32:10, 11, 32] Then they despised the pleasant land [of Canaan]; They did not believe in His word nor rely on it, But they sulked and complained in their tents; They did not listen to the voice of the LORD. Therefore He lifted up His hand [swearing] to them, That He would cause them to fall in the wilderness, And that He would cast out their descendants among the nations And scatter them in the lands [of the earth]. ¶They joined themselves also to [the idol] Baal of Peor, And ate sacrifices offered to the dead. Thus they provoked Him to anger with their practices, And a plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas [the priest] stood up and interceded, And so the plague was halted. [Num 25:7, 8] And that was credited to him for righteousness, To all generations forever. ¶They provoked Him to anger at the waters of Meribah, So that it went hard with Moses on their account; [Num 20:3-13] Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, Moses spoke recklessly with his lips.

Psalms 106:17-33 The Passion Translation (TPT)

You split open the earth, and it swallowed up Dathan and Abiram along with their followers. Fire fell from heaven and burnt up all the band of rebels, turning them to ashes. They made an idol of a calf at Sinai and bowed to worship their man-made statue. They preferred the image of a grass-eating ox to the presence of the glory-filled God. They totally forgot it was you who saved them by the wonders and awesome miracles you worked in Egypt. So you decided to destroy them. But Moses, your chosen leader, stood in the gap between you and the people and made intercession on their behalf to turn away your wrath from killing them all. 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.