Psalms 65

Psalms 65:1

Psalm 65: Millennial Harvest SongWhile Psalms 65 is generally used as a classic song of “harvest home,” there can be little doubt that its primary interpretation deals with conditions at the Second Advent of the Lord. 65:1 During the long centuries of Israel’s estrangement from God, Zion was barren as far as praise to God was concerned. But when God’s ancient people are restored to Him, praise will await Him there in the silence of awe and reverence. To Him the vow shall at last be performed. This may mean His own vow that every knee will bow to Him (Isa_45:23). It may refer to the Messiah’s vow of Psa_22:22 : “In the midst of the congregation I will praise You.” Or it may mean the vow of love, worship, and service that the persecuted remnant will make during the terrible suffering of the Tribulation. 65:2 Whereas Israel was primarily in view in verse 1, here the subject broadens to include all mankind. God is known by the grand and noble title, “You who hear prayer.” The converted nations will lay hold of Him in believing prayer. 65:3 It is important to notice the change of speakers here. In the first clause, the Messiah is rehearsing His vicarious work at Calvary when He was crushed beneath sin’s awful load. But the Jewish remnant quickly acknowledges that it was not His sins but “our transgressions.” They say, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed” (Isa_53:5). And as soon as Israel makes this confession of guilt, they will have the assurance that their transgressions are all forgiven. 65:4 Again we are aware that the first part of the verse speaks of the Messiah Jesus, whereas the second part is the language of redeemed Israel. God’s blessed Son is the One whom God chose, as we read in Isa_42:1 : “. . . My elect One in whom My soul delights.” Also He is the One whom God caused to approach Hima priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. He shall dwell in the courts of the Lord, in the place of special nearness to Him. Then the remnant expresses its confidence of complete satisfaction with the goodness of God’s house, that is, His holy temple. This reference to the temple causes some to question the Davidic authorship of the Psalm since the temple was not built until after David’s death. However the difficulty vanishes when we realize that the word temple was sometimes used to describe the tabernacle before Solomon’s temple was erected (1Sa_1:9; 1Sa_3:3; 2Sa_22:7). 65:5-7 The remnant is still speaking. In answer to their prayers, the Lord righteously punishes their enemies with awesome judgments. Thus He reveals Himself as the God of their salvation and the confidence of people throughout the earth and in far-off seas. What a great God He is! With omnipotence as His belt, He established the mountains firm in their place by an act of super-power. It’s nothing for Him to pacify the raging seas, the fury of their waves (on the Sea of Galilee, for instance). Or to suppress the fury of the Gentile peoples, for that matter. 65:8 No wonder that unbelievers in the farthest lands are afraid of the signs and wonders which God visits upon them. Or that believers in the lands of sunrise and sunset rejoice. 65:9 While verses 9-13 describe the harvest year from seedtime to harvest, they apply especially to conditions in the Millennium when the curse will be lifted and bumper crops will be the rule. Springtime is like a visit from God. He sends the showers from His overhead riverthe clouds that scud across the sky. Then when the ground has been prepared, He provides the seed to be planted. 65:10 During the growing season, the plowed furrows are irrigated, the rain melting the clods and keeping the ground soft. Soon the crops are shooting up in profusion. 65:11-13 God crowns the growth cycle with His goodness. Wherever His feet have passed, the stream of plenty flows (Knox). The pastures yield rich supplies of fodder. The little hills are covered with lush vegetation, as if hilarious with joy. The pastures wear a sheepskin coat, clothed as they are with innumerable flocks. Ripened grain bends in rhythmic cadence across the floors of the valleys. It seems that all nature is celebrating the arrival of the age of the Messiah.