Psalms66
New American Standard
1 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
2 Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious.
3 Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will pretend to obey You.
4 All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.” Selah
5 Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of mankind.
6 He turned the sea into dry land; They passed through the river on foot; Let’s rejoice there, in Him!
7 He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; The rebellious shall not exalt themselves! Selah
8 Bless our God, you peoples, And sound His praise abroad,
9 Who keeps us in life, And does not allow our feet to slip.
10 For You have put us to the test, God; You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon us.
12 You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water. Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.
13 I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows,
14 Which my lips uttered And my mouth spoke when I was in distress.
15 I shall offer to You burnt offerings of fat animals, With the smoke of rams; I shall make an offering of bulls with male goats. Selah
16 Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was exalted with my tongue.
18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;
19 But God has heard; He has given attention to the sound of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His favor from me.
Study
Psalms 66Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 66. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Praise for God's sovereign power in the creation. (1–7). For his favour to his church. (8–12). And the psalmist's praise for his experience of God's goodness. (13–20).
vv1-7
The holy church throughout all the world lifts up her voice, to laud that Name which is above every name, to make the praise of Jesus glorious, both by word and deed; that others may be led to glorify him also. But nothing can bring men to do this aright, unless his effectual grace create their hearts anew unto holiness; and in the redemption by the death of Christ, and the glorious deliverances it effects, are more wondrous works than Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage.
vv8-12
The Lord not only preserves our temporal life, but maintains the spiritual life which he has given to believers. By afflictions we are proved, as silver in the fire. The troubles of the church will certainly end well. Through various conflicts and troubles, the slave of Satan escapes from his yoke, and obtains joy and peace in believing: through much tribulation the believer must enter into the kingdom of God.
vv13-20
We should declare unto those that fear God, what he has done for our souls, and how he has heard and answered our prayers, inviting them to join us in prayer and praise; this will turn to our mutual comfort, and to the glory of God. We cannot share these spiritual privileges, if we retain the love of sin in our hearts, though we refrain from the gross practice, Sin, regarded in the heart, will spoil the comfort and success of prayer; for the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of the Lord. But if the feeling of sin in the heart causes desires to be rid of it; if it be the presence of one urging a demand we know we must not, cannot comply with, this is an argument of sincerity. And when we pray in simplicity and godly sincerity, our prayers will be answered. This will excite gratitude to Him who hath not turned away our prayer nor his mercy from us. It was not prayer that fetched the deliverance, but his mercy that sent it. That is the foundation of our hopes, the fountain of our comforts; and ought to be the matter of our praises.
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
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
רוּעַ: to mar (especially by breaking); figuratively, to split the ears (with sound), i.e. shout (for alarm or joy)
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
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
זָמַר: play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music
כָּבוֹד: properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
Cross References
Psalms 66Direct reference to God turning the Red Sea into dry land for Israel's passage.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illuminates the concept of enemies yielding a forced or feigned submission through fear of God's power.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The NT parallel asserting that God does not hear the prayers of those who cherish sin.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
NT parallel for believers being tested like silver in a furnace to prove faith.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Verbal and thematic parallel to passing safely through fire and water under God's protection.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Exhortation for all the earth to sing and show forth God's salvation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historic passage where Jordan's flood was turned to dry land for Israel's crossing.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates how later generations identify collectively with their ancestors' historic deliverance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Invitation to the Gentile nations to join in praising God for His people.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms that the sacrifice and prayers of the wicked are an abomination to God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies praise and payment of vows as the true, spiritual sacrifices God desires.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallel for God bringing the soul up from danger and keeping it alive.
Supported by JFB
Highlights the loins as the seat of strength which affliction enfeebles.
Supported by JFB
Contextual background on the presenting of burnt offerings for vows.
Supported by JFB
Lexical connection on the Hebrew word used for feigned, reluctant submission by enemies.
Supported by John Calvin