Psalms65
English Standard Version
1To the . A of . A . is to you, O , in , and to you shall be .
2O you who , to you shall .
3When against me, you for our .
4 is the one you and bring , to in your ! We shall be with the of your , the of your !
5By you us with , O of our , the of the of the and of the ;
6the one who by his the , being with ;
7who the of the , the of their , the of the ,
8so that those who at the ends of the are in at your . You make the of the and the to shout for .
9You the and it; you it; the of is of ; you their , you have it.
10You its , its , it with , and its .
11You the with your ; your with .
12The of the , the themselves with ,
13the themselves with , the themselves with , they and .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 65.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God is to be praised in the kingdom of grace. (1–5). In the kingdom of providence. (6–13).
vv1-5
All the praise the Lord receives from this earth is from Zion, being the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, and acceptable through him. Praise is silent unto thee, as wanting words to express the great goodness of God. He reveals himself upon a mercy-seat, ready to hear and answer the prayers of all who come unto him by faith in Jesus Christ. Our sins prevail against us; we cannot pretend to balance them with any righteousness of our own: yet, as for our transgressions, of thine own free mercy, and for the sake of a righteousness of thine own providing, we shall not come into condemnation for them. Observe what it is to come into communion with God in order to blessedness. It is to converse with him as one we love and value; it is to apply ourselves closely to religion as to the business of our dwelling-place. Observe how we come into communion with God; only by God's free choice. There is abundance of goodness in God's house, and what is satisfying to the soul; there is enough for all, enough for each: it is always ready; and all without money and without price. By faith and prayer we may keep up communion with God, and bring in comfort from him, wherever we are. But it is only through that blessed One, who approaches the Father as our Advocate and Surety, that sinners may expect or can find this happiness.
vv6-13
That Almighty strength which sets fast the mountains, upholds the believer. That word which stills the stormy ocean, and speaks it into a calm, can silence our enemies. How contrary soever light and darkness are to each other, it is hard to say which is most welcome. Does the watchman wait for the morning? so does the labourer earnestly desire the shades of evening. Some understand it of the morning and evening sacrifices. We are to look upon daily worship, both alone and with our families, to be the most needful of our daily occupations, the most delightful of our daily comforts. How much the fruitfulness of this lower part of the creation depends upon the influence of the upper, is easy to observe; every good and perfect gift is from above. He who enriches the earth, which is filled with man's sins, by his abundant and varied bounty, can neither want power nor will to feed the souls of his people. Temporal mercies to us unworthy creatures, shadow forth more important blessings. The rising of the Sun of righteousness, and the pouring forth of the influences of the Holy Spirit, that river of God, full of the waters of life and salvation, render the hard, barren, worthless hearts of sinners fruitful in every good work, and change the face of nations more than the sun and rain change the face of nature. Wherever the Lord passes, by his preached gospel, attended by his Holy Spirit, his paths drop fatness, and numbers are taught to rejoice in and praise him. They will descend upon the pastures of the wilderness, all the earth shall hear and embrace the gospel, and bring forth abundantly the fruits of righteousness which are, through Jesus Christ, to the glory of the Father. Manifold and marvellous, O Lord, are thy works, whether of nature or of grace; surely in loving-kindness hast thou made them all.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
תְּהִלָּה: laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn
דּוּמִיָּה: stillness; adverbially, silently; abstractly quiet, trust
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
צִיּוֹן: Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
נֶדֶר: a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised
שָׁלַם: to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)
Cross References
Psalms 65Direct linguistic parallel: 'Praise is silent' (waiteth), indicating silent, patient waiting upon God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The heavy, overwhelming burden of iniquities prevailing against the soul.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Dwell in God's courts; local sanctuary presence as communion with God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Dwelling in the house of the Lord to experience His goodness forever.
Supported by JFB
Iniquities separating us from God and hindering prayers until He purges them.
Supported by John Calvin
God doing 'terrible things' in righteousness, showing awesome and wonderful deeds.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The ends of the earth turning to the Lord as their confidence.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
God's strength setting fast the world; being clothed and girded with majesty and power.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Christ literally stilling the wind and the raging waves, demonstrating His divine control.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Being abundantly satisfied with the fatness and goodness of God's house.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God setting bounds to the proud waves and stilling the noise of the seas.
Supported by JFB
The 'river of God' that makes glad the city of God, signifying spiritual refreshment.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The earth receiving blessings and rain from God to bring forth useful herbs.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God watering the hills from His chambers and satisfying the earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole