Psalms 106:13
They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
Psalms 106:13
This verse flags a setback: despite God’s mighty acts, “They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel.” The psalmist names a common human pattern—wakeful deliverance followed by forgetfulness and impulsive behavior. The Israelites, after experiences of provision and protection, became restless, turning away from patient reliance on God’s guidance. The context reflects a people moving between divine intervention and self-reliance, a cycle that often led to missteps and judgment. The phrase “waited not for his counsel” emphasizes the importance of seeking and trusting God’s guidance rather than rushing ahead with human plans. This moment is not merely historical; it serves as a cautionary mirror for readers today about how quickly gratitude can fade and how prone we are to act independently of divine wisdom.
Theologically, the verse highlights the tension between revelation and human response. God reveals his will and provides for his people, yet human beings must choose to trust and obey. Forgetting God’s works is a spiritual shortfall that leads to impulsive choices that undermine covenant faithfulness. Thematically, it introduces the virtue of patient trust in God’s timing and counsel as essential to sustaining faith through wilderness years. It sets up the broader biblical pattern: divine initiative paired with human response—belief, obedience, and dependence on God’s wisdom.
Today, when you sense God’s provision, resist the urge to shortcut the process or pivot away from seeking divine guidance. Practical steps: pause before major decisions, seek counsel from Scripture and wise mentors, and pray for patience to wait on God’s timing. Cultivate a habit of recording God’s past guidance and outcomes so you can reread them in moments of uncertainty. If you have fallen into “forgatt[ing]” God, return to grateful remembrance, confess the impatience, and deliberately invite God’s counsel into the next step. In families or teams, implement regular reflective practices—devotional check-ins, prayer, and collective discernment—to align with God’s guidance rather than rushing ahead on human impulse.
Cross-References: Exodus 16:2-4; Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 30:18