Psalm 65 comments

 

Psalm 65:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David.» Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. 2  O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. 3  Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. 4  Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest 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 wilt 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:

 

David affirms the worthiness of God to praise and that God does hear our prayers. Pay note to this verse which I love.

 

Isaiah 65:24  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

 

David acknowledges that God will drive our sins from us.

 

1John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

The Israelite would meet with God in the temple of God after it was built by Solomon, in this holy temple, set apart for God. (The many references by David of a temple show that its construction was a foregone conclusion and he knew it would be accomplished.) However, for Christians, both Jew and Gentile, our bodies are the temple of God in which He dwells.

 

1Corinthians 3:16 ¶  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

 

And we have this privilege.

 

Hebrews 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

David lifts up God’s attentiveness and concern for His people and also expresses the confidence that God will hear what they have to say. God’s power is exalted here, as well.

 

For verse 4 remember these two contrasting verses;

 

Psalm 33:12 ¶  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

 

But;

 

Psalm 9:17  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

 

Psalm 65:6 ¶  Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power: 7  Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. 8  They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. 9  Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. 10  Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. 11  Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. 12  They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. 13  The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

 

For a people whose very life was dependent upon agriculture God’s power, provision, and abundance He provided was essential to understand and to praise.

 

David declares the placing of mountains as being evidence of God’s power. His control over the waves of the sea in a storm and the seemingly chaotic activity of mankind is also spoken of as under God’s control. His preparation of crops for man to survive on and the flocks and abundance that blesses man is referred to by David.

 

Truly this Psalm is a praise for the overwhelming power and sovereignty of the God of Heaven. It also praises His kindness and the many blessings He provides to mankind, of which many take no notice ascribing them to something like luck or a non-personal nature.

 

First, we see God’s protection, His answer to prayer, His forgiveness for sins confessed, and then His unimaginable power and authority over all reality is underscored in a few brief verses. This is a Psalm that will refresh us in times of difficulty.

 

Notice the results of God’s blessing and power of even the hills and the pastures and the valleys singing and rejoicing whether it be symbolic language or a hint of something that goes on in the world of the spirit we cannot see or hear.