Psalms 106:13
They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
Original Language Analysis
מִֽ֭הֲרוּ
They soon
H4116
מִֽ֭הֲרוּ
They soon
Strong's:
H4116
Word #:
1 of 6
properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e., (by implication)
שָׁכְח֣וּ
forgat
H7911
שָׁכְח֣וּ
forgat
Strong's:
H7911
Word #:
2 of 6
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
מַעֲשָׂ֑יו
his works
H4639
מַעֲשָׂ֑יו
his works
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
3 of 6
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 6
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Exodus 15:24And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?Psalms 78:11And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.Exodus 16:2And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:Psalms 107:11Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:Proverbs 1:25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:Exodus 17:2Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?Proverbs 1:30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.Exodus 17:7And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
Historical Context
Israel's forgetfulness manifested first at Marah (Exodus 15:23-24), where bitter water led to complaints, then at the Wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16:2-3), where they grumbled about food scarcity. Each new challenge erased memory of past deliverance. This demonstrated that fallen human nature gravitates toward unbelief unless God's Spirit works to sustain faith. The psalm uses this pattern to warn subsequent generations against repeating ancestral folly.
Questions for Reflection
- What spiritual disciplines help believers remember and meditate on God's past faithfulness?
- How does impatience with God's timing reveal lack of trust in His wisdom?
- In what ways do you 'soon forget' God's works in your life?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse describes the rapid collapse of Red Sea faith. 'They soon forgat his works' uses shakach (שָׁכַח), meaning to forget, ignore, or no longer care about. 'Soon' emphasizes the shocking speed of forgetfulness—mere days after witnessing the sea split and enemies drowned. 'They waited not for his counsel' means they didn't patiently wait for God's instruction but impulsively demanded immediate solutions. This reveals the root of unbelief: impatience with God's timing and methods. They wanted to dictate how and when God should provide. This pattern of demanding immediate gratification rather than waiting for God's revealed will characterizes much spiritual immaturity.