Leanness of Soul

Yesterday I said that Psalm 105 sort of skips over the fact that God’s people did a lot of whining and complaining and a lot of sinning against God during their wilderness journey. Well Psalm 106 doesn’t mince words as it describes the rebellion of the people. The psalm begins with the mention of the forgiveness of God and then goes on to list several examples of the rebellion of the people. This psalm mentions the rebellion against Moses, the molding of the golden calf, complaining about the land, making sacrifices to Baal and on and on. Ultimately God forgave them of the sin. There is a phrase in verse 15 that leaped off the page (or the computer screen) to me as I read it. I’d like to read verses 13-15: They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. 15  And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul. Please read verse 15 again. God gave them their request but sent leanness into their soul. They thought they wanted something that would satisfy them but instead of satisfying them it left them empty. How many times have people done this very same thing? In finances and in relationships and in other areas of life, we think we know what we need but when it is not what God wants for us, it doesn’t lead to satisfaction but rather “leanness”. Their request was granted but it wasn’t the right request.

I hope that what you are requesting is that which God desires. If not, though you might get what you want, it won’t bring satisfaction but rather “leanness”.