Psalms 65

Psalms 65:1-5

In this psalm we are directed to give God the glory of his power and goodness, which appears. 1. In the kingdom of grace, ver. 1. Hearing prayer, ver. 2. Pardoning sin, ver. 3. Satisfying the souls of the people, ver. 4. Practicing and purporting them, ver. 5. 2. In the kingdom of providence, fixing the mountains, ver. 6. Calming the sea, ver. 7. Preferring the regular succession of day and night, ver. 8. And making the earth fruitful, ver. 9-13. They are blessings we are all indebted to God for, and for which we owe the tribute of prayer.

¶ To the chief musician, A psalm and song of David.

1. PRAISE waited for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. 2. O thou: that heareth prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. 3. Inquisites prevail against me; as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. 4. Blessed to the man whom thou chosoft, and caused to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. 5. By terrible things in righteousness, will thou answer us, O God of our salvation: who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea.

The Psalmist here, as the mouth of the congregation, addresses his prayer to God.

1. He describes glory to him. Praise waisteth for thee, O God, in Sion; thy people there, expelling thy mercies, are ready to meet them with songs of thanksgiving: or the words may be rendered, to thee belong silence and praise, silent expectation under every difficulty and trial, and entire acquiescence in thy holy will, and praise the tribute due for sure deliverance: unto thee shall the vow be performed, which was made in their distress; and on the gracious answer given to their prayer, should be with delight rendered unto God. Note, (1.) Patient expectation shall be succeeded with joyful praise. (2.) When we vow unto God, let us be speedy to pay.

2. He shows him as the prayer-bearing God. O thou that heareth prayer, ever ready to answer, yea, more ready to hear than we to pray, unto thee shall all flesh come, engaged by the Vols. I.

Some of thy grace, encouraged by the promise of thy word, and the experience of thy people.

3. He expresses his confidence in God’s pardoning grace. Inquisites prevail against me; the words of iniquity, the malicious superfluous of his enemies, or the indwelling corruptions of his own heart, that role up to condemn him; but as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away, how great forever they have been, whether his own or those of God’s people, he knew the atoning blood would purge their consciences, and wipe away the guilt of all their sins. Note, (1.) Though at times iniquities may prevail against us, we may not despair, nor be driven from God, but to him: of any man sin, there is still an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins. (2.) The more we see of our own guilt and sinfulness, the more are we bound to admire and adore the transcendent mercy of a pardoning God.

4. He declares the blessedness of God’s choice, who were admitted into his course, and favoured with a sense of his love, v. 4. There the trusts satisfaction was to be found; the goodness of his house, and the comforts of his worship, would abundantly refresh their souls, v. 5. Note, (1.) It is not our desert, but God’s gracious choice, that brings any soul near to him; till he draws, we cannot run after him. (2.) Communion with God is man’s greatest happiness. (3.) They who would enjoy God’s presence, must draw near to him in the ordinances of his worship, and be among the comfort attendants at his temple. (4.) Though nothing on earth beside can satisfy an immortal soul, God is the sufficient position of his people.

5. He expects to see the destruction of all their enemies. By terrible things in righteousness, with thou answer us, O God of our salvation; by just judgments inflicted on our foes, and merciful interpositions manifested in our behalf, wherein the hand will be seen as the God of our salvation; and this will engage the truth of all thy people, wherever dispersed, or however distressed: who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are far off upon the sea; the blood of God, whether on sea or land, or driven to the most distant corner, making him their confidence, find him a firm refuge. Note, (1.) The enemies of God’s people are regarded as rebels against himself, and will be made to tremble under his terrible arm. (2.) None that truly trusted in God, or cried to him in faith, could ever complain of disappointment.

6. Which by his strength feteth fast the mountains; being girded with power. 7. Which thileth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. 8. They also that dwell in the utter, most parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the out-going of the morning and evening to rejoice. 9. Thou wilteth the earth, and watereth it: thou greatly enricheth it with the river of God which is full of water: thou prepared them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. 10. Thou watereth the ridges thereof abundantly: thou fetteth the furrows thereof: thou makest it full of water with flowers, thou blesseth the springing thereof. 11. Thou crowneth the year with thy goodness, and thy paths, thro’ drop fatness. 12. They drop upon the pathures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. 13. The pathures are clothed with flocks; the valleys, also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Psalms 65:6-13

It is an encouraging consideration to the people of God to behold the works of his power and providence around them, as an engagement always to trust him as able to save to the uttermost.

1. By his power the mountains are set fast on their wide bases; and like to them his church is fixed and immovable: sooner may the mountains be overturned than his promises to his people.

2. At his voice the stormy billows peacefully subside, and the more tumultuous insurrections of the wicked are filled; in his hands are the hearts of all men, and therefore his faithful ones need not fear the loudest threatenings.

3. The tokens of God’s judgments on the wicked, or the daily evidences of his wisdom and power in the succession of day and night, make the utmost parts of the earth to reverence his majesty; whilst the out-going of the morning and evening, rejoice to be made instruments of displaying his glory, or from cast to west God diffuses gladness, by sending forth his light and truth in the gospel to the benighted world.

4. God’s providential care appears in the rain and fruitful seasons he bellows. Thou wilteth the earth with kind regard, and watereth it when parched with drought: thou greatly enricheth it with the river of God, the clouds of heaven, which is full of water: thou prepared them corn, by moistening the seed sown with flowers, when thou hast so beautiful thou hast so prepared it, to drink in the rain and drops of dew. Thou watereth the ridges thereof abundantly, on which the corn is scattered: thou hastest

the foreguns thereof: thou makest it fast with favours, thou blesseth the springing thereof, causing it to take root, and shoot upwards vigorously. In consequence of which, thou crownest the poor with thy goodness, causing a plentiful harvest, and thy paths, the heavens, whence the rain descends, drop farms, fertilizing the soil, and diffusing plenty around. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness, to produce grass to fatten the cattle: and the little hills rejoice on every side, echoing with lowing herds and blasting flocks, that feed on their sides. The pastures are clothed with flocks; so thick covered, and affording such plenty of food; the valleys also beneath are covered over with trees; they shout for joy, they also sing; rejoicing to supply the wants of man, or filled with the joyous songs of mowers and reapers, gathering in the welcome harvest. Note, (1.) The heart of man, till watered with the dew of heavenly influences, is like the barren ground. (2.) Where God lows the load of eternal life, he waters it abundantly, and blesses the increase. (3.) The hardest heart grows tender, and susceptible of the deepest impressions, when God prepares and softens it. (4.) The church is a pasture filled with Christ’s flock, and there his praises are echoed on every side. (5.) If plenty crown the year, let it awake our gratitude to him whole clouds drop down fatness. (6.) There is not a moral of bread goes into our mouths but speaks God’s goodness and demands our praise.