Psalm 106:43-45
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

Psalm 105 details the history of Israel—the covenant that began with Abraham, the purpose of Joseph’s captivity, their deliverance from Egypt under Moses, God’s judgment on the Egyptians, His provision in the wilderness. Very clearly, God’s goodness, faithfulness and power are seen in all that He did for them. But then Psalm 106 details a different aspect of their history—the sins of the people, their unfaithfulness to God, their unbelief, their rebellion against His ways. So they missed out on some blessings and got themselves into trouble over and over.

But God is still faithful. God is still merciful. God still keeps His promises. He is in it for the long haul. We see His plan unfold throughout the centuries. We see how things connect as we look back on them. We can trace His purpose and plan. But we are but flesh, and sinful flesh at that, prone to wander and go astray, to fail God over and over again. But still He is with us to deliver, to forgive, to help us as we repent and turn again to Him.

The story of Israel is one of redemption, not just from enemies and problems on earth, but the redemption that comes from Christ over sin and death. And all along the way, God’s abundant, unfailing mercy is on display. It never fails and it never changes. They could always turn back to God. He heard their cries and responded to them. Our story is similar if we trace back our own history. There we see the faithfulness of God, His long-term plan, His goodness, Him working for the duration of our lives, even as we fail and mess up and fall short. But in the end, His mercy endures, He offers deliverance, He keeps His promises to us.