Psalm 66 — God’s Covenant Relationship
For the Chief Musician. A Song, a Psalm.
1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth:
2 Sing forth the glory of his name:
Make his praise glorious.
3 Say unto God, How terrible are thy works!
Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
4 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;
He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land:
They went through the river on foot:
There did we rejoice in him.
7 He ruleth by his might for ever;
His eyes observe the nations:
Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
8 O bless our God, ye peoples,
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, hast proved us:
Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11 Thou broughtest us into the net;
Thou layedst a sore burden 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.
13 I will come 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 distress.
15 I will offer unto thee burnt offerings of fatlings,
With the incense 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:
19 But verily God hath heard;
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.
Do you remember that the psalms we recently read together were all about our enemies? We slowly left that theme and now consider a psalm all about God's covenant relationship with his people. Within this psalm we consider God's work of salvation and work to build faithfulness and praise in his people.
I love the ideas opened up in vs. 5-7. The psalmist invites us to look at and consider God's great works - terrible works, in my translation. God's opening of the sea to deliver his people from Egypt is magnificent. A people with no escape received escape. A people who could not help themselves found help. A people, lowly and beneath the nations, saw God rule over nations. Regardless of our country or nation today, the God we worship is the very same God - he has the power to save us, still.
God then, in vs. 8-15, led his people through trials and difficulties, bringing his people to his perfection. Tried as silver is tried, in order to remove impurity, we today have a difficult and narrow way to walk. Yet, by the grace of God and his commitment to help, we will be purified.
We are left with praise on our lips. God's covenant, or words of promise and connection, is taught in this psalm. God saves, yet brings us to purity, not with easy days, but with trials. Our work to grow in purity, walking his way, brings us to perfection and praise. Will you devote yourself to a God who loves you?