Before Captivity part 2
Pre-Ezra-Nehemiah • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsPsalm 106 examines the history of the Isrealites, specifically their disobedience and judgment. Despite their rebellious ways God remains faithful in his love and covenant promises.
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I. Before Ezra-Nehemiah part 2
I. Before Ezra-Nehemiah part 2
Outline August 30th, 2026
By Reverand Calvin Dorsey
I. Introduction
a. Proverbs 11:19
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but whoever pursues evil will die.
b. Pre-requisite for Nehemiah
i. To understand Nehemiah, we need Israel’s story and how they entered captivity.
c. Psalm 105 and 106: Israel’s history
i. These psalms survey Israel’s history, God’s protection, the rebellion leading toward captivity, and its lessons.
d. As we study God’s people long ago, we see our story and today’s lessons.
i. Psalm 105 – When trouble comes from outside sin, God rescues, protects, and avenges us.
ii. Psalm 106- When trouble comes from sin within, God holds us accountable, protects us, and rescues us.
e. In my conversion story, sin and evil were easy to grasp because I saw them everywhere, but only through victimhood. From my lens I was a victim of abuse, greed, neglect, and systemic oppression. However true, that did not lead me to salvation. I had to turn inward and deal not only with the victim, but also the villain. Seeing my sinful nature, exposed my need for forgiveness and revealed His mercy. That truth led me to Jesus: Romans 2:4“His kindness, his grace lead to repentance.
i. My favorite Andy Mineo lines says, I should have paid sin’s price, but the Father gave that Christ. What love is this? To send His own, to die for sin and take us home, got me feeling good, forget my feelings, when you heard a story about the hero dying for the villain.
f. In pursuing Christ, opposition comes from three directions: sin in the fallen world around us, sin from our fall nature in us and Satan who uses both to hinder us.
i. The longer I walk with God, the more convinced I become: one’s spiritual ascent is tied to understanding our sin and brokenness. This is Psalm 51’s heartbeat: “God, a broken and contrite heart you will not despise.”
Our prayer is that this series helps us look more like Jesus. As we survey God’s people, we will learn the right heart posture to pursue him and avoid the path leading to pain or ruin.
II. Psalm 106:1-3
a. Psalm 106:1–3
1 Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all his praise? 3 Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.
i. Explanation: He opens with “Praise the Lord!” The same as “Hallelujah.” When reading Psalms there is a temptation to treat it like a random quote book, but each psalm is intentional, like an epistle; every line connects. Disconnecting verse 1 from verses 2–3 causes us to miss the story.
a. “Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the Lord.” —> We should shout praise and confess appreciation to God. Why?
For He is Good: Why is He good?
“For His Steadfast Love endures forever”: His love stands the test of time and never fails.
“Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all his praise?” What kind of person can speak of God’s goodness and faithfulness?
b. This is not rhetorical; the next verse answers.
“Blessed are those who observe justice, who do righteousness all the time.” This is a beatitude. Like from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. “Blessed” means deep joy in one’s soul, more simply: all will be well with my soul when my heart’s posture is fill in the blank: “poor in spirit, meek, honors God.
In this Psalmists’ case
All will go well with those who champion justice and practice righteousness “all the time.” (put a pin in that, I know that can see like a lot) So who can declare His praise? The righteous: God’s people, who honor Him with their lips and actions.
c. The opening reveals this truth: The people of God have a heart of praise through obedience.
iii. Illustration: One of our biggest misunderstandings is worship. Worship is both the expression of our tongues and the posture of our hearts, which informs the actions of our bodies.
c. Matthew 15:8-9– Jesus quotes Isaiah confronting Religious Pharisees:
8 ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”
d. Growing up, I immaturely judged my pastor for editing sermons the night before. In my self-righteous ignorance, I thought, “Oh, he ain’t prepared.” But he was pastoring a struggling church, raising four kids, working, and honoring God in speech and conduct. I judged by man’s standards. My heart was foul.
iv. Application: As formed disciples and followers of Christ, we should make sure we truly worship God. We bear God’s image, meaning we reflect Him. True worship mirrors Him in speech and conduct. So, does our worship include praise from our lips and deeds flowing from our hearts?
As we’ll see, Israel wasn’t doing a great job worshiping God. So, we see the psalmist’s words are a plea and prayer.
III. Psalm 106:4-5
a. Psalm 106:4–5
4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you deliver them; 5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory in your heritage.
i. Explanation: He begins with “Remember me,” or “call me to mind.” Notice his request moves from the individual to the corporate:
c. “Remember me” —> Show favor to Your people.
d. “help me” —> deliver them
e. “Come to me, that I may see” —> The prosperity of Your chosen ones.
The psalmist understands worship and blessing happen within the collective of God’s people. Here he drops another nugget:
f. The people of God have a heart for we over me.
ii.Illustrate: In the greatest sports movie of all time, Remember the Titans, team leaders Julius and Gerry have a heated discussion because Julius is not helping on defense:
The Script reads:
c. Julius: "I'm supposed to wear myself out for the team? What team?! No. No, what I'm gonna do is, I'm gonna look out for myself, and I'm gonna get mine."
Gary: "See, man? That's the worst attitude I've ever heard."
Julius: "Attitude reflects leadership... Captain."
This moment is pivotal. Both men realize there is no individual success apart from the whole. Success and failure happen within we, not me.
iii. Application
c. For followers of Christ, our foundation is in the collective.
d. A healthy disciple’s prayers should move from I, me, and my toward them, we, us, and our. We hear this in the Lord’s Prayer. Spiritual maturity is not being the strongest link, but making sure the whole chain is not compromised
IV. Psalm 106:6-46 In this largest patch of verses, the psalmist shows what worship doesn’t look like through acts of disobedience. I’ll read each passage, summarize, and apply it.
a. Psalm 106:7-12 Psalm 106:7–12
7 Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wonderful works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, so that he might make known his mighty power. 9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry; he led them through the deep as through a desert.
10 So he saved them from the hand of the foe, and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.
i. Synopsis – The psalmist recalls Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Despite God’s miraculous deliverance, they questioned His Word when Egypt pursued them. Israel throughout history had a history of unbelief. They kept asking, “Did God say?”
ii. Application: Questions aren’t wrong when things are unclear. But when God has spoken, don’t question Him in unbelief.
b. Psalm 106:13-15
13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. 14 But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; 15 he gave them what they asked,
but sent a wasting disease among them.
i. Synopsis – Israel grew discontent and impatient. God gave bread, but they wanted different and more; He promised land, but taking it required work. This is the disease of more.
ii. Application: The sin of Discontentment. Scripture says repeatedly, “all the Israelites complained.” Complaining reveals ungratefulness to God. This has been a recent conviction of mine. If you struggle like me, list God’s blessings this month. Put his good before our faces as remembrance stones.
c. Psalm 106:16-18
16 They were jealous of Moses in the camp, and of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord. 17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the faction of Abiram. 18 Fire also broke out in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
i. Synopsis: Numbers 16 records Israelites becoming jealous because God chose Moses and Aaron to speak through. Their jealousy led to division.
ii. Application: The sin of jealousy. Jealousy itself is not sinful, but it becomes sin when we desire what isn’t ours and lash out in rebellion.
d. Psalm 106:19-23
19 They made a calf at Horeb and worshiped a cast image.20 They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.21 They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,22 wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.23Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
i. Synopsis – Exodus 32 and Deuteronomy 9 record ancient Israel making a golden calf. Paul echoes this in Romans 1: “They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man.”
ii. Application: The sin of idolatry. Be mindful that we worship God as revealed in His Word, not the god shaped by our desires and wants.
e. Psalm 106:24-27
24 Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. 25 They grumbled in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the Lord. 26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness, 27 and would disperse their descendants among the nations, scattering them over the lands.
i. Synopsis – Israel repeated its sin of complaining and grumbling. The Canaanites looked too big, so fear made them draw back from God and despise the Promised Land.
ii. Application: Don’t let fear make you trust your ability over God’s Word, power, and might. “God has not given us a spirit of fear.”
f. Psalm 106:28-31
28 Then they attached themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; 29 they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up and interceded, and the plague was stopped. 31 And that has been reckoned to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.
i. Synopsis: Numbers 25 records ancient Israel joining with Moabite women, embracing foreign worship, and offering sacrifices to the dead. God’s issue wasn’t interracial marriage, but interreligious compromise. “Sacrifices to the dead” is like pouring out alcohol or sending gifts and money as tribute to the graves of the dead.
ii. Application: They “Joined themselves” to other Gods. This is apostasy: willingly following other gods. Every idol is sinking sand. Don’t compromise Jesus’ truth with other religions.
g. Psalm 106:32-33
32 They angered the Lord at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account;
33 for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke words that were rash.
i. Synopsis: Moses struck the rock twice when God told him to speak to it. He may have acted from anger, but he still disobeyed.
ii. Application: This is provocation: knowingly doing what displeases the Lord and provoking God through intentional disobedience.
h. Psalm 106:34-39
34 They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them, 35 but they mingled with the nations and learned to do as they did. 36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them. 37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; 38 they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus they became unclean by their acts, and prostituted themselves in their doings.
i. Synopsis: Deuteronomy 32 recounts ancient Israel’s pagan worship becoming even more wicked. They sacrificed their children to false gods, which were demons.
ii. Application: False religions often excuse wickedness, including adultery, child abuse, child marriage, and sometimes murder. Pay attention: any religion that condones evil reveals the darkness behind it.
i. Psalm 106:40-46
40 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage; 41 he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power. 43 Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes, and were brought low through their iniquity. 44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry. 45 For their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 46 He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive.
i. Synopsis: In this final section, the psalmist explains the cycle of judgment, seen clearly in the book of Judges: rebellion, falling away, crying for help, God’s liberation, then more rebellion.
ii. Application: This is the chapter’s linchpin. Romans 5:20 says, “But where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly.” Grace does not promote sin; it declares that no evil can overshadow God’s love. It’s the difference between dropping ink into a bottle and dropping it into the Atlantic Ocean.
j. In this historical account, we have one truth that is evident, and it is that the people of God have a heart of confession and repentance.
i. I love E. Mase’s definition of confession: “Confession is the communication of one’s individual rebellion against God, without blame shifting.”
Confession is part of repentance, but not the whole picture.
Throughout the Bible, repentance is described with several words. In Hebrew, one means turning away in a different direction; another means being consoled or feeling deep grief. In the New Testament, it mainly means changing one’s mind. In full biblical scope, repentance reorients one’s mind and will away from sin and toward God
A working definition: Repentance is acknowledging past wrongdoing, showing regret, and taking steps of obedience toward God’s Word.
k. Application: The psalmist reviews ancient Israel’s history with true regret and a desire for change. However, sadly Israel’s pattern is a lack of repentance that leds to ruin.
I haven’t seen a
successful marriage,
healthy parenting,
faithful church,
or growing disciple of Christ
without regular confession and repentance, both toward one another and toward God.
IV. Psalm 106:47-48
47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. 48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise the Lord!
a. Explanation
The psalmist ends with a prayer, giving us another formula:
Deliver us; gather us from the nations. Why?
So we can confess the goodness of Your holy name. For What Purpose?
To bring You all the Glory.
He shows that worship and praise are truly complete when they include brokenness over sin, thankfulness for God’s grace, mercy, and love, and a life reoriented to glorify Him.
Lastly,
The People of God have a heart to glorify God.
Earlier, I mentioned Psalm 51, This is David’s prayer of repentance and brokenness after committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband, Uriah, killed in battle.
What’s interesting is David’s repentance didn’t come immediately. Bathsheba became pregnant, and David tried covering it up. After having Uriah killed, he married Bathsheba, and they had the baby. Nearly a year passed before David was confronted with his sin. He likely spent that time ignoring it, justifying it, and lying. Then he had to face God, and he wrote this:
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
His praise was made complete through brokenness and a desire to sing of God’s faithful love and forgiveness.
Closing:
Early in Psalm 106, the psalmist asks, “Who can sing God’s praises?” The answer is, “Blessed are those who uphold justice and do righteousness at all times.” “At all times” speaks of an entire life defined by justice and righteousness.
The problem is that no one can live a live wholly defined by justice and righteousness. Except the people of God, who trust in Jesus’ righteousness and allow Him to live through them.
13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Take Home:
As we enter the Ezra-Nehemiah series, let us remember the lessons from ancient Israel’s history:
• The people of God have hearts of praise through obedience.
• The people of God have a heart that values we over me.
• The people of God have hearts of confession and repentance.
• The people of God have hearts that glorify God.
