Psalms Chapter 65 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.
1 Praise waits for you, God, in Zion. Vows shall be performed to you.
2 You who hear prayer, all men will come to you.
3 Sins overwhelmed me, but you atoned for our transgressions.
4 Blessed is the one whom you choose and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
5 By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us, God of our salvation. You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth, of those who are far away on the sea.
6 By your power, you form the mountains, having armed yourself with strength.
7 You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.
8 They also who dwell in faraway places are afraid at your wonders. You call the morning's dawn and the evening with songs of joy.
9 You visit the earth, and water it. You greatly enrich it. The river of God is full of water. You provide them grain, for so you have ordained it.
10 You drench its furrows. You level its ridges. You soften it with showers. You bless it with a crop.
11 You crown the year with your bounty. Your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The wilderness grasslands overflow. The hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The pastures are covered with flocks. The valleys also are clothed with grain. They shout for joy! They also sing.
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Psalms Chapter 65 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song. Guide
This is a great song of worship. The occasion would seem to be that of a harvest festival. The people are assembled for praise (verses Psalms 65:1-4). God's particular goodness in the harvest is celebrated (verses Psalms 65:5-8). With reference to the assembling of the people the marginal reading is full of beauty:
There shall be silence before Thee and praise.
The same thought is present, though obscure, in the text: Praise waiteth for Thee.
It is the true attitude of worship. Reverent silence preparing for, and issuing in, adoring praise.
There is always a difficulty in the way of worship. "Iniquities prevail." Yet these are not final hindrances, for God purges away transgressions. The way into the silence of praise is described. God chooses, and causes to approach. The man so conducted dwells in the courts of God, and is satisfied with the goodness of His house. That is a fine description of worship in its expression, its method, its experience. The greatness of the power of God is the subject of the worshiper's song, and that power is at the disposal of those who worship. Then, finally, is sung the song of harvest. This is beautiful as a description of God's part therein. Man's toil is not described. It is taken for granted, and is his prayer. God's answer is co-operation by which harvest comes in joy and singing.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Psalms Chapter 65 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- God is to be praised in the kingdom of grace. -- (1-5)
- In the kingdom of providence. -- (6-13)
Verses 1-5
All the praise the Lord receives from this earth is from Zion, being the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, and acceptable through him. Praise is silent unto thee, as wanting words to express the great goodness of God. He reveals himself upon a mercy-seat, ready to hear and answer the prayers of all who come unto him by faith in Jesus Christ. Our sins prevail against us; we cannot pretend to balance them with any righteousness of our own: yet, as for our transgressions, of thine own free mercy, and for the sake of a righteousness of thine own providing, we shall not come into condemnation for them. Observe what it is to come into communion with God in order to blessedness. It is to converse with him as one we love and value; it is to apply ourselves closely to religion as to the business of our dwelling-place. Observe how we come into communion with God; only by God's free choice. There is abundance of goodness in God's house, and what is satisfying to the soul; there is enough for all, enough for each: it is always ready; and all without money and without price. By faith and prayer we may keep up communion with God, and bring in comfort from him, wherever we are. But it is only through that blessed One, who approaches the Father as our Advocate and Surety, that sinners may expect or can find this happiness.
Verses 6-13
That Almighty strength which sets fast the mountains, upholds the believer. That word which stills the stormy ocean, and speaks it into a calm, can silence our enemies. How contrary soever light and darkness are to each other, it is hard to say which is most welcome. Does the watchman wait for the morning? so does the labourer earnestly desire the shades of evening. Some understand it of the morning and evening sacrifices. We are to look upon daily worship, both alone and with our families, to be the most needful of our daily occupations, the most delightful of our daily comforts. How much the fruitfulness of this lower part of the creation depends upon the influence of the upper, is easy to observe; every good and perfect gift is from above. He who enriches the earth, which is filled with man's sins, by his abundant and varied bounty, can neither want power nor will to feed the souls of his people. Temporal mercies to us unworthy creatures, shadow forth more important blessings. The rising of the Sun of righteousness, and the pouring forth of the influences of the Holy Spirit, that river of God, full of the waters of life and salvation, render the hard, barren, worthless hearts of sinners fruitful in every good work, and change the face of nations more than the sun and rain change the face of nature. Wherever the Lord passes, by his preached gospel, attended by his Holy Spirit, his paths drop fatness, and numbers are taught to rejoice in and praise him. They will descend upon the pastures of the wilderness, all the earth shall hear and embrace the gospel, and bring forth abundantly the fruits of righteousness which are, through Jesus Christ, to the glory of the Father. Manifold and marvellous, O Lord, are thy works, whether of nature or of grace; surely in loving-kindness hast thou made them all.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.