Psalm 106:13 describes how the people of Israel quickly forgot what God had done for them and did not wait for his guidance. The verse is a confession, a sober look back at a pattern of forgetfulness that the psalmist sees repeated in his nation’s history. It is spoken by the writer of the psalm, speaking on behalf of Israel as a community, looking back over generations who had witnessed God’s rescue and then turned away.
They soon forgot his works. They didn’t wait for his counsel…
Psalm 106:13 (WEB)
What Psalm 106:13 Means
The phrase “They soon forgot his works” points to how quickly the memory of God’s deliverance faded. The people had just seen the sea close over their enemies, and within a short time their attention had shifted elsewhere. The word “soon” is the sting in the verse. It suggests that forgetting was not a slow drift but a rapid fading of gratitude.
The second half, “They didn’t wait for his counsel,” describes a different failure. Waiting for counsel means pausing to ask God what he wants before acting. The people moved ahead on their own impulses instead of seeking his direction. The verse does not say they never prayed or never worshiped. It describes a habit of rushing past God rather than resting in his guidance.
What the verse does not promise is any sort of easy fix or instant change. It is a description of human weakness, not a formula for avoiding it. Its value lies in the honesty it offers, showing that remembering and waiting are disciplines that have to be practiced again and again.
The Context of Psalm 106:13
Psalm 106 belongs to the wisdom and poetry collection of the Old Testament. It is a long historical psalm that retells Israel’s story from the exodus through the wilderness years, mixing thanksgiving with confession. The psalm is traditionally associated with the Hebrew liturgy, sung by a worshiping community that needed to remember its past honestly. Its audience was Israel, and by extension anyone who looks back on God’s faithfulness and their own response to it.
The verses just before this one (Psalm 106:10 to 12) celebrate God’s rescue from enemies and the people’s initial praise, so verse 13 lands as a sharp turn. Verse 14 goes on to describe craving and testing God in the wilderness. Read in that sequence, verse 13 is the hinge between joyful memory and the failures that followed. It shows that the psalmist is not describing ancient strangers but a pattern that moves from gratitude to neglect.
Key Phrases in Psalm 106:13
Psalm 77:11
I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.
(WEB)
This verse shows the psalmist deliberately calling to mind God’s deeds of old as a remedy for discouragement. It answers the forgetting described in Psalm 106:13 with an active choice to remember.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
(WEB)
These verses urge trust in God rather than reliance on one’s own understanding, which is the heart of waiting for his counsel. They offer a positive picture of the wisdom that Psalm 106:13 says the people lacked.
A Short Prayer From Psalm 106:13
Lord, I confess how quickly I forget what you have done. Your faithfulness in past seasons slips from my mind when new worries arrive, and I rush ahead without asking for your counsel. Teach me to remember your works and to pause long enough to hear your direction. Let gratitude root itself in my heart so that I trust you in what comes next. Amen.
