Psalms 66

Psalms 66:1-7

This is a thanksgiving psalm, designed for the Israel of God in all ages. They praise God, 1. For his greatness and glory, manifest in creation and providence, ver. 1—5. 2. For special mercies to his simple people, ver. 6—12. And then, 3. The psalmist prayseth God for his own experience of his goodness to him in particular, especially in answering his prayers, ver. 13—20.

¶ To the chief musician, A song or psalm. ¶ Heb. All the earth. Or, yield frighted the decree, PC revi. 44. Intell. 15. Phil. 1801. Dan. vii. Psal. 1801. Re. 1801. Sch. iii. PC 1801. ¶ MAKE a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands.

2. Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. 3. Say unto God, How terrible are thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

3. • All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee, they shall sing to thy name. Selah. 5. * Come and see the works of God: be it terrible in his doing toward the children of men. 6. * He turned the sea into dry land: * they went through the flood on foot, there did we rejoice in him. 7. He ruled by his power for ever, * his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

We have here,

1. The persons called upon to unite in the praises of God. All lands, not merely the people of Israel, but all the ends of the earth; to whom, in the fulness of time, God would send the knowledge of his grace. Note, We have reason to bless God in this land, for being numbered among those to whom the word of salvation hath been that, and with whom it abides.

2. The manner of their praises. They must make a joyful noise, sing aloud their Creator and Redeemer’s praises, proclaim his glory; and in their lives, as well as lips, shew forth his honour.

3. The reasons why they should thus praise him. [1.] Because of his terrible works and the greatness of his power, manifested in the statement of his enemies and theirs, v. 3. Note, Every antichristian foe will be made shortly to bow at the feet of the faithful, and to know that God hath loved them. [2.] For the mercies manifested to his church of old; the remembrance of which should be ever new; such as was the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, when the sea opened a way for the redeemed to pass over, there did we rejoice in thee. Note, Our father’s mercies are our own, and should awaken our praises. [3.] Because the same protection shall be for ever vouchsafed to all God’s Israel. As God ever rules, and ever sees the devices of their enemies, he will disappoint them, to the confusion of their good and rebellious foes. Note, Since all power is given to Christ in heaven and on earth, his people may be assured no powers of darkness shall be able to hurt them, but shall with joy see them shortly put under his feet and theirs for ever.

¶ Heb. Parasith. Psal. xvi. He shall vi. Zach. iv. 9. 1 Psal. i. 1. Lam. i. Re. ii. 1. Phil. 1801.

8. O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard. 9. Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. 10. For thou, O God, hath proved us: * thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. 11. * Thou broughtest us into the net, thou laidst affliction upon our loins. 12. * Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads, * we went through

fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

Psalms 66:8-12

They who have an interest in God, as their covenant God, ought to make their voices of grateful praise to be heard. Particularly,

1. For their lives; not only the preservation of bodily life, but more especially for the spiritual life Christ hath bestowed and maintains, and for the eternal life to which he will shortly bring them, and suffereth not our feet to be moved; though some thro’ it at by temptation, and hath been with corruption, yet, by the power of Almighty grace, our souls are preserved from final and fatal apostasy.

2. For the blessed issue of their trials. Many an enemy had harassed the land, they had been taken prisoners in the net of their oppression, had suffered a variety of afflictions, been trampled upon and inflicted by the Philistines and neighbouring nations; but it was to prove, not destroy them; and therefore they were delivered, and public tranquillity and plenty restored to them. Thus the church of Christ hath been also in the furnace of affliction, under the man of fire, in Rome pagan and papal, has passed through variety of tortures by fire and water, terrible as these devouring elements, and been often reduced to the greatest distress, in order to prove the patience of the saints; but God will bring them into a wealthy or large place; as at the reformation, when true religion reared its land; and as will be more eminently the case, when at last Christ shall come and reign over his saints gloriously. This also is the state of every believer, who prefers through temptation, painful as the action of fire, and deep as the floods; but the issue shall be power; his graces, thus exercised, shall shine the brighter, and into his wealthy place, even a manhood in eternal glory, will be brought; when he hath suffered a little while for Christ, he shall reign with him for ever.

¶ Heb. Mus.

13. I will go into thy house with burnt-offerings: * I will pay thee my vows, 14. Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble. 15. I will offer unto thee burnt-facrifices of tastings, with the interest of rams: I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah. 16. * Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. 17. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. 18. * If I regard iniquity in my heart: the Lord will not hear me. 19. But verily * God hath heard me: he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. 20. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Psalms 66:13-20

The psalmist here, in the person of the faithful, declares the effects which God’s grace and protection would have upon them.

1. He and they would offer the noblest sacrifices appointed under the law, the fairest health shall burn on God’s altar, according to the vows they had made in trouble. Note, Since Christ’s one salvation was offered, all other sacrifices of blood are abolished; but sacrifices of praise will never cease attending from every faithful heart, and will go up with acceptance in the smoke which unites from the Saviour’s sacrifice, making all our offerings a sweet-breathing favour to God.

2. He calls on all that fear God to come and hear what God had done; what wonders of grace in pardoning, banishing, comforting, and saving his sinful soul, v. 16. and this in answer to his faithful and fervent prayer, v. 17, which God, who knew the simplicity of his heart, v. 18, had heard and granted, v. 19, and for which he desires ever to bless and praise him, as for all his mercies, v. 20. Note, (1.) We are bound for God’s glory, and the encouragement of his people, to communicate our experience of his goodness; not as vain of our mercies, as if the favourites of heaven, but as thankfully testifying our gratitude to him from whom we have received all. (2.) There can be no comfort obtained from prayer, nor any well-grounded confidence entertained of God’s acceptance of us, whilst allowed and indulged iniquity remains in the heart. (3.) They who lift up holy hands, without wrath and doubting, may rise from their knees continually blessing and praising God.