This verse warns believers of the consequences of incomplete obedience.
The psalmist laments Israel’s failure by stating “They did not destroy the peoples, As the LORD commanded them” (v.34). This verse refers to Israel’s disobedience in failing to comply with God’s instructions regarding the inhabitants of Canaan, the land promised to them by the LORD. Geographically, Canaan was situated in the ancient Near East, roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan and Syria. Historically, the LORD had commanded the Israelites—during the time of Moses (circa 1526-1406 BC) and Joshua (who likely led Israel from around 1406-1390 BC)—to remove the Canaanite nations entirely to maintain purity of worship (Numbers 33:51-52). By ignoring this command, Israel’s spiritual integrity was threatened by the false gods and customs of the nations they left in place.
The statement “They did not destroy the peoples, As the LORD commanded them” (v.34) highlights a pattern in Israel’s history where their partial obedience eventually led to grave consequences. The ancient civilizations surrounding Israel often practiced pagan rituals and idolatrous worship that directly opposed the worship of the one true God (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). This disobedience foreshadows the spiritual downturn that Israel experienced throughout the time of the Judges (roughly 1375-1050 BC), as recorded in the Old Testament, demonstrating how failing to follow God’s commandments fully can lead to compromise and eventual bondage by sin and foreign powers.
In a broader biblical sense, this underscores humanity’s ongoing struggle to obey God’s instructions wholeheartedly, a struggle that is ultimately resolved in Jesus Christ’s perfect obedience (Romans 5:19). For Christians today, it illustrates the importance of faithfully following God’s guidance rather than allowing complacency to creep in and weaken one’s devotion.
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Psalms 106:34 meaning
The psalmist laments Israel’s failure by stating “They did not destroy the peoples, As the LORD commanded them” (v.34). This verse refers to Israel’s disobedience in failing to comply with God’s instructions regarding the inhabitants of Canaan, the land promised to them by the LORD. Geographically, Canaan was situated in the ancient Near East, roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan and Syria. Historically, the LORD had commanded the Israelites—during the time of Moses (circa 1526-1406 BC) and Joshua (who likely led Israel from around 1406-1390 BC)—to remove the Canaanite nations entirely to maintain purity of worship (Numbers 33:51-52). By ignoring this command, Israel’s spiritual integrity was threatened by the false gods and customs of the nations they left in place.
The statement “They did not destroy the peoples, As the LORD commanded them” (v.34) highlights a pattern in Israel’s history where their partial obedience eventually led to grave consequences. The ancient civilizations surrounding Israel often practiced pagan rituals and idolatrous worship that directly opposed the worship of the one true God (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). This disobedience foreshadows the spiritual downturn that Israel experienced throughout the time of the Judges (roughly 1375-1050 BC), as recorded in the Old Testament, demonstrating how failing to follow God’s commandments fully can lead to compromise and eventual bondage by sin and foreign powers.
In a broader biblical sense, this underscores humanity’s ongoing struggle to obey God’s instructions wholeheartedly, a struggle that is ultimately resolved in Jesus Christ’s perfect obedience (Romans 5:19). For Christians today, it illustrates the importance of faithfully following God’s guidance rather than allowing complacency to creep in and weaken one’s devotion.