Psalms 66
FBMeyerPsalms 66:1-15
“ Come and See the Works of God” Psalms 66:1-15 Some of the old expositors speak of this psalm as “ the Lord’ s Prayer in the Old Testament.” A summons to praise, Psalms 66:1-4 The devout soul cannot be glad alone. It demands sympathy in its raptures. All the earth is not too great for an orchestra, nor all mankind for a choir. God’ s love may compel a feigned obedience, Psalms 66:3, R.V., margin, but the divine Spirit changes the heart. Divine deliverance, Psalms 66:5-12 Come and see. Compare John 1:39-40. Let us never forget the great past. The Red Sea and the Jordan have their counterparts in all lives. How often God has turned our seas into dry land, and cleaved paths through our rivers! Through the flood on foot is a miracle of daily experience. The rebels exalt themselves, but we are unmoved. We are tried in the fire, but no atom perishes. We go through persecution and oppression, but we come forth into abundance. The payment of vows, Psalms 66:13-15 Let us pay under bright skies what we vowed under dark ones. Pay your vows; declare what God has done for you; offer not beasts, but offer yourself, as a living sacrifice unto God! Romans 12:1.
Verily God hath heard! Some of the old expositors speak of this Psalm as the Lord’s Prayer of the Old Testament. It consists of five divisions (Psalms 66:1-20), of which the second and the fifth begin in a similar manner–Come ye!
Psalms 66:1.All ye lands!Notice the missionary spirit which breaks through the narrow limits of Judaism. Thus are men larger than their creeds. See also Psalms 66:4.
Psalms 66:2.Make His praise glorious!We should make our praise as worthy of its object as possible. Praise Him with a glorious hymn!
Psalms 66:3.How terrible are Thy works!God’s manifested power will only make his enemies yield a feigned obedience. See marg., R.V. Grace alone can change their hearts.
Psalms 66:5.Come and see!Thus Jesus spake and Philip (John 1:39-46).
Psalms 66:6. Through the Flood! The Red Sea and the Jordan. Is not this always true of the Church, that God’s people are passing through obstacles which must daunt them, were it not for their Divine companion (Isaiah 43:2). Our God turns the place of trial into one of joy. “Isaiah 11:11-15 leads us to anticipate a repetition of the miracle of the divided waters.”
Psalms 66:7. His eyes behold the nations The metaphor here is of God looking forth on men from his heavenly watch-tower with eyes that carry with them the light by which they see.
Psalms 66:10. Thou hast tried us! “It is not known what corn will yield, till it come to the flail; nor what grapes, till they come to the press. Grace is hid in nature, as sweet water in rose-leaves. The fire of affliction fetcheth it out.” Satan tempts us to our fall and ruin; God tries us to show what grace He has implanted, and to strengthen by exercise.
Psalms 66:11-12. Thou broughtest us into! Thou broughtest us out! The Psalmist sees God’s will not only in his appointments, but also in his permissions. He is said to do what He permits to be done. The imagery is of beasts, first netted; then heavily laden (the loins being the seat of strength); then driven by men who almost sit over their heads, dominating them as they choose. Psalms 66:12. Through fire and through water Fire and water were used in purifying the spoils of war (Numbers 31:23). We need something more than water (Matthew 3:2). He who brings us into the trial will certainly bring us out. The wealthy place is a well-watered place (see marg.). The word is translated in Psalms 23:5, “runneth over.”
Psalms 66:14.Opened lips (marg.) are probably mentioned to show that the vows were made under strong internal pressure which forced the lips open.
Psalms 66:16. Come and hear! These words befitted the woman of Samaria and the Gadarene demoniac (John 4:29; Mark 5:19-20). They suggest the duty of all those who have received special help and blessing. Psalms 66:17. I cried unto Him Scarcely had I cried, than I had reason to praise.
Psalms 66:18. If I had regarded (R.V., marg.) Be sure that you are on God’s errand and not on some sinful or selfish quest.
Psalms 66:20. God hath not turned away His mercy We have no plea in prayer like God’s mercy.
Psalms 66:16-20
“ Let All the Peoples Praise Thee” Psalms 66:16-20; Psalms 67:1-7 Come and hear, Psalms 66:16-20 The psalm began with Come and see, Psalms 66:5. Compare Mark 5:19-20; John 4:29. It will be one of the employments of heaven to go from group to group to tell what God has done for us. But each hearer will have a tale as wonderful as ours. We must praise without stint, and pray with pure and unselfish motives. From such prayers God will not turn away. Psalms 67:1-7, like Psalms 65:1-13, was composed for use at an annual festival. “ Bless us,” say the saints in yearning prayer. “ God shall bless us,” is the certain answer of faith, Psalms 67:1; Psalms 67:7. We desire blessing, not to hoard for ourselves, but that all mankind may share with us. Ask for God’ s smile on yourself alone, and you will miss it; ask for it that you may reflect and pass it on, and the Lord will become your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be ended. Four times the psalmist cries, Let the peoples praise thee, R.V. In answer to his appeal, it seemed as if the whole world had broken out into fresh fertility. Our own God, Psalms 67:6. He has given Himself to us, and each may have the whole of the fullness as an estate of boundless extent and wealth, Numbers 18:20; Psalms 16:5.
Verily God hath heard! Some of the old expositors speak of this Psalm as the Lord’s Prayer of the Old Testament. It consists of five divisions (Psalms 66:1-20), of which the second and the fifth begin in a similar manner–Come ye!
Psalms 66:1.All ye lands!Notice the missionary spirit which breaks through the narrow limits of Judaism. Thus are men larger than their creeds. See also Psalms 66:4.
Psalms 66:2.Make His praise glorious!We should make our praise as worthy of its object as possible. Praise Him with a glorious hymn!
Psalms 66:3.How terrible are Thy works!God’s manifested power will only make his enemies yield a feigned obedience. See marg., R.V. Grace alone can change their hearts.
Psalms 66:5.Come and see!Thus Jesus spake and Philip (John 1:39-46).
Psalms 66:6. Through the Flood! The Red Sea and the Jordan. Is not this always true of the Church, that God’s people are passing through obstacles which must daunt them, were it not for their Divine companion (Isaiah 43:2). Our God turns the place of trial into one of joy. “Isaiah 11:11-15 leads us to anticipate a repetition of the miracle of the divided waters.”
Psalms 66:7. His eyes behold the nations The metaphor here is of God looking forth on men from his heavenly watch-tower with eyes that carry with them the light by which they see.
Psalms 66:10. Thou hast tried us! “It is not known what corn will yield, till it come to the flail; nor what grapes, till they come to the press. Grace is hid in nature, as sweet water in rose-leaves. The fire of affliction fetcheth it out.” Satan tempts us to our fall and ruin; God tries us to show what grace He has implanted, and to strengthen by exercise.
Psalms 66:11-12. Thou broughtest us into! Thou broughtest us out! The Psalmist sees God’s will not only in his appointments, but also in his permissions. He is said to do what He permits to be done. The imagery is of beasts, first netted; then heavily laden (the loins being the seat of strength); then driven by men who almost sit over their heads, dominating them as they choose. Psalms 66:12. Through fire and through water Fire and water were used in purifying the spoils of war (Numbers 31:23). We need something more than water (Matthew 3:2). He who brings us into the trial will certainly bring us out. The wealthy place is a well-watered place (see marg.). The word is translated in Psalms 23:5, “runneth over.”
Psalms 66:14.Opened lips (marg.) are probably mentioned to show that the vows were made under strong internal pressure which forced the lips open.
Psalms 66:16. Come and hear! These words befitted the woman of Samaria and the Gadarene demoniac (John 4:29; Mark 5:19-20). They suggest the duty of all those who have received special help and blessing. Psalms 66:17. I cried unto Him Scarcely had I cried, than I had reason to praise.
Psalms 66:18. If I had regarded (R.V., marg.) Be sure that you are on God’s errand and not on some sinful or selfish quest.
Psalms 66:20. God hath not turned away His mercy We have no plea in prayer like God’s mercy.