Psalms Chapter 66 For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm.
1 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
2 Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!
3 Tell God, "How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.
4 All the earth will worship you, and will sing to you; they will sing to your name." Selah.
5 Come, and see God's deeds- awesome work on behalf of the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him.
7 He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don't let the rebellious rise up against him. Selah.
8 Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard,
9 who preserves our life amongst the living, and doesn't allow our feet to be moved.
10 For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs.
12 You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance.
13 I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you,
14 which my lips promised, and my mouth spoke, when I was in distress.
15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats. Selah.
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
17 I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn't have listened.
19 But most certainly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me.
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Psalms Chapter 66 For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm. Guide
This is one of the most beautiful of the songs of worship. It is divided into two parts by a change from the use of the plural pronoun (verses Psalms 66:1-12) to the use of the singular (verses Psalms 66:13-20).
In the first part all the earth is called on to worship God because of what He has done for His people. This is a recognition of the true function of the people of God, which is to reveal God to the outside nations in such a way as to constrain them to worship. In the second half the worship becomes individual and personal, and yet the same purpose is manifest in the appeal to others to hear. In this case those called on to hear are such as fear God. Thus the testimony of the individual is to strengthen the faith of God's own, in order that they may be more perfectly equipped for their testimony to those without.
In the story of God's dealing with His people there is a recognition of His government through all the differing experiences of their history. By deliverance and by distress, by triumph and trial, He has conducted them to a wealthy place. Very full of comfort is the individual realization, following as it does this larger experience. In the economy of God the lonely man is not lost in the multitude, and the solo of his praise is as precious as is the chorus of the multitude's worship.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Psalms Chapter 66 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Praise for God's sovereign power in the creation. -- (1-7)
- For his favour to his church. -- (8-12)
- And the psalmist's praise for his experience of God's goodness. -- (13-20)
Verses 1-7
The holy church throughout all the world lifts up her voice, to laud that Name which is above every name, to make the praise of Jesus glorious, both by word and deed; that others may be led to glorify him also. But nothing can bring men to do this aright, unless his effectual grace create their hearts anew unto holiness; and in the redemption by the death of Christ, and the glorious deliverances it effects, are more wondrous works than Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage.
Verses 8-12
The Lord not only preserves our temporal life, but maintains the spiritual life which he has given to believers. By afflictions we are proved, as silver in the fire. The troubles of the church will certainly end well. Through various conflicts and troubles, the slave of Satan escapes from his yoke, and obtains joy and peace in believing: through much tribulation the believer must enter into the kingdom of God.
Verses 13-20
We should declare unto those that fear God, what he has done for our souls, and how he has heard and answered our prayers, inviting them to join us in prayer and praise; this will turn to our mutual comfort, and to the glory of God. We cannot share these spiritual privileges, if we retain the love of sin in our hearts, though we refrain from the gross practice, Sin, regarded in the heart, will spoil the comfort and success of prayer; for the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of the Lord. But if the feeling of sin in the heart causes desires to be rid of it; if it be the presence of one urging a demand we know we must not, cannot comply with, this is an argument of sincerity. And when we pray in simplicity and godly sincerity, our prayers will be answered. This will excite gratitude to Him who hath not turned away our prayer nor his mercy from us. It was not prayer that fetched the deliverance, but his mercy that sent it. That is the foundation of our hopes, the fountain of our comforts; and ought to be the matter of our praises.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.