Daily Devotions
Psalms
Psalm 106:39a "Thus they were defiled by their own works..."
Day 168 – Psalm 106
“Thus they were defiled by their own works…” Psalm 106:39a
SPIRITUAL DEFILEMENT
The sin of offering human sacrifice was so great that it had to be carefully spoken of.
“Thus they were defiled by their own works,
And played the harlot by their own deeds.
Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled
against His people,
So that He abhorred His own inheritance.”
Psalm 106:39-40
1. “Thus they were defiled by their own works”
a) There was moral defilement.
b) There was spiritual defilement as well.
c) The children of Israel had broken their covenant with God.
2. “And played the harlot by their own deeds”
a) The sin of idolatry was described as spiritual harlotry.
b) They turned to idol after idol.
c) Each idolatrous practice often involved wicked and inhuman deeds.
3. “Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people”
a) The wrath of God is perfectly understandable in the light of these circumstances.
b) God’s wrath was kindled against the children of Israel… “His people”.
4. “His people… His own inheritance”
a) Moses had pleaded once before that God would regard Israel as “His people” (Exodus 33:13).
b) He had also described Israel as God’s inheritance in a song he composed (Deuteronomy 32:9).
5. “So that He abhorred His own inheritance”
a) The children had polluted the land with the shedding of innocent blood.
b) God’s holiness could not but abhor “His own inheritance”.
This phrase reflects the holy revulsion God felt as He looked at the idolatry of the children of Israel.