Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
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.
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:
Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
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.
Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Psalms 65, along with Psalms 66-68, forms a collection of praise psalms that frequently draw upon imagery from nature and the harvest. Notably, only Psalms 65 and 68 are explicitly attributed to David. This psalm is a heartfelt expression of gratitude for God's kindness and provision for His people, encouraging all to offer thanksgiving. It's quite possible that this psalm was composed to celebrate a particularly bountiful harvest. Let's explore the depths of this song.
The Joy of Atonement and Access to God (Psalms 65:1-4)
The opening verses of Psalms 65 reveal a deep sense of trust in God's forgiveness, naturally leading to praise. While the original Hebrew can be interpreted in various ways, the core message remains consistent: worship, stillness, and obedience are the appropriate responses to God's grace. This faith is expressed both individually and collectively. David highlights the blessedness of drawing near to God in obedience, once the barrier of sin is removed (Psalms 65:1-4). He understood that God alone can truly atone for our rebellions (Psalms 65:3).
David celebrated the joy of forgiven sins, even under the Old Covenant system of yearly sacrifices. How much greater is the joy we can experience through Jesus Christ! The sacrifices in the temple could not provide a complete and permanent atonement. But Jesus, through His perfect sacrifice, offers eternal forgiveness and sanctification to all who trust in Him (Hebrews 10:11-18). How happy are those who are able to draw near to Him once God has removed the barrier of sin (Psalms 65:4).
God's Awesome Power in Creation (Psalms 65:5-8)
David expresses confidence that God answers the prayers of His people with awe-inspiring works (Psalms 65:5), especially in light of the salvation He provides and the hope they place in Him. God's communication isn't limited to miraculous events like the Exodus. He also reveals Himself through the natural world (Psalms 19:1; Romans 1:18-20). This psalm emphasizes that the Lord's power is evident to the entire world, not just Israel. His might surpasses that of the established mountains and the tumultuous seas. This imagery echoes passages like Isaiah 17:12-13, which compare the chaos of ungodly nations to raging oceans. The Lord’s power and strength are demonstrated in his sovereignty over creation. Mountains and seas bow to his will (Psalms 65:6-7). His supernatural activity causes people to fear, rejoice, and enter fellowship with him (Psalms 65:8).
God's Gracious Provision and Blessing (Psalms 65:9-13)
The psalm concludes by emphasizing God's gracious provision for the harvest. While humanity cultivates the land, it is God who sends the rain and enables growth. David is reminded of the goodness of God as he provides his blessings on the earth. By sending rain showers and granting growth, his people received a harvest of grain (Psalms 65:9-10, 13). Creation itself is robed with joy and shouts in triumph at his works (Psalms 65:12-13). Some commentators also see this passage as a foreshadowing of the eternal, spiritual blessings (John 4:36; James 3:18; Galatians 6:8) available to those who accept God's grace.
Just as creation flourishes when it receives God's blessings, so it is with us. When we turn to God in repentance and faith—whether as a new believer or as one returning to fellowship after sin—we can experience the blessing of Christ's atoning work and live a fruitful life (1 John 1:9). Psalms 65 is a powerful reminder of God's forgiveness, provision, and the joy of living in close relationship with Him.
Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
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.
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:
Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
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.
Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Psalms 65, along with Psalms 66-68, forms a collection of praise psalms that frequently draw upon imagery from nature and the harvest. Notably, only Psalms 65 and 68 are explicitly attributed to David. This psalm is a heartfelt expression of gratitude for God's kindness and provision for His people, encouraging all to offer thanksgiving. It's quite possible that this psalm was composed to celebrate a particularly bountiful harvest. Let's explore the depths of this song.
The Joy of Atonement and Access to God (Psalms 65:1-4)
The opening verses of Psalms 65 reveal a deep sense of trust in God's forgiveness, naturally leading to praise. While the original Hebrew can be interpreted in various ways, the core message remains consistent: worship, stillness, and obedience are the appropriate responses to God's grace. This faith is expressed both individually and collectively. David highlights the blessedness of drawing near to God in obedience, once the barrier of sin is removed (Psalms 65:1-4). He understood that God alone can truly atone for our rebellions (Psalms 65:3).
David celebrated the joy of forgiven sins, even under the Old Covenant system of yearly sacrifices. How much greater is the joy we can experience through Jesus Christ! The sacrifices in the temple could not provide a complete and permanent atonement. But Jesus, through His perfect sacrifice, offers eternal forgiveness and sanctification to all who trust in Him (Hebrews 10:11-18). How happy are those who are able to draw near to Him once God has removed the barrier of sin (Psalms 65:4).
God's Awesome Power in Creation (Psalms 65:5-8)
David expresses confidence that God answers the prayers of His people with awe-inspiring works (Psalms 65:5), especially in light of the salvation He provides and the hope they place in Him. God's communication isn't limited to miraculous events like the Exodus. He also reveals Himself through the natural world (Psalms 19:1; Romans 1:18-20). This psalm emphasizes that the Lord's power is evident to the entire world, not just Israel. His might surpasses that of the established mountains and the tumultuous seas. This imagery echoes passages like Isaiah 17:12-13, which compare the chaos of ungodly nations to raging oceans. The Lord’s power and strength are demonstrated in his sovereignty over creation. Mountains and seas bow to his will (Psalms 65:6-7). His supernatural activity causes people to fear, rejoice, and enter fellowship with him (Psalms 65:8).
God's Gracious Provision and Blessing (Psalms 65:9-13)
The psalm concludes by emphasizing God's gracious provision for the harvest. While humanity cultivates the land, it is God who sends the rain and enables growth. David is reminded of the goodness of God as he provides his blessings on the earth. By sending rain showers and granting growth, his people received a harvest of grain (Psalms 65:9-10, 13). Creation itself is robed with joy and shouts in triumph at his works (Psalms 65:12-13). Some commentators also see this passage as a foreshadowing of the eternal, spiritual blessings (John 4:36; James 3:18; Galatians 6:8) available to those who accept God's grace.
Just as creation flourishes when it receives God's blessings, so it is with us. When we turn to God in repentance and faith—whether as a new believer or as one returning to fellowship after sin—we can experience the blessing of Christ's atoning work and live a fruitful life (1 John 1:9). Psalms 65 is a powerful reminder of God's forgiveness, provision, and the joy of living in close relationship with Him.