Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
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.
I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.
Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
Psalms 66 is a powerful hymn of thanksgiving, calling all the earth to praise God for His mighty acts and unwavering faithfulness. While the specific historical context remains uncertain, its message of God's sovereignty, deliverance, and responsiveness to prayer resonates across generations. Some scholars suggest it may have been composed after a significant victory, such as the defeat of the Assyrians during Hezekiah's reign (Isaiah 36-37), or perhaps after the return from Babylonian exile (Ezra 1:2-3). Regardless of its exact origin, the psalm's enduring themes offer profound insights into worship, God's character, and the believer's relationship with Him.
A Call to Global Worship (66:1-4)
The psalm opens with an urgent invitation: "Shout for joy to God, all the earth!" (Psalms 66:1). This isn't a call for quiet reverence alone, but for exuberant, unrestrained praise. The psalmist urges all nations to sing the glory of God's name and make His praise glorious (Psalms 66:2). Our worship should be commensurate with the greatness of the One we worship; a great God deserves great praise. The psalmist envisions a future day when the whole earth will worship God (Psalms 66:4), a prophecy echoed in the New Testament (Philippians 2:10-11).
Remembering God's Mighty Deeds (66:5-9)
The psalmist reminds the people of God's awesome works, particularly His miraculous intervention in delivering Israel from Egypt. He recounts how God "turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot" (Psalms 66:6), referring to both the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14:15-31) and the crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:1-17). These acts demonstrate God's sovereign power over creation and His unwavering commitment to His people.
God's watchful eye extends over the entire world, and no one should presume they can defy Him (Psalms 66:7). Just as God used the waters to deliver His people, He also used them to vanquish Pharaoh's army. The rebellious should not exalt themselves. The psalm emphasizes that God preserves His own (Psalms 66:8-9), even amidst trials and tribulations.
God's Refining Process (66:10-12)
The psalm acknowledges that God's people experience hardship and oppression. The psalmist describes it as being tested like silver (Psalms 66:10). Even in these difficult circumstances, God is at work for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He allows us to encounter challenges so that He can reveal His comfort and power, refining us and preparing us for greater things. He may bring us through fire and water, but ultimately He leads us to a place of abundance (Psalms 66:12).
Fulfilling Vows and Sharing Testimony (66:13-15)
The psalmist turns to a personal expression of thanksgiving, declaring his intention to fulfill the vows he made to God during a time of distress (Psalms 66:13-14). He will offer sacrifices as a tangible expression of his gratitude, trusting God to provide for him (Psalms 66:15). This highlights the importance of honoring our commitments to God, even after the crisis has passed.
The Power of Prayer and Confession (66:16-20)
The psalm concludes with an invitation to "Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for my soul" (Psalms 66:16). The psalmist shares his testimony, praising God for answering his prayer. He acknowledges a crucial principle: "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (Psalms 66:18). Honesty and openness before God are essential. Confession and repentance are necessary if our prayers are not to be hindered (1 Peter 3:7). When we address our personal sin, we open the door to experiencing the faithful love of God (Psalms 66:20).
Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
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.
I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.
Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
Psalms 66 is a powerful hymn of thanksgiving, calling all the earth to praise God for His mighty acts and unwavering faithfulness. While the specific historical context remains uncertain, its message of God's sovereignty, deliverance, and responsiveness to prayer resonates across generations. Some scholars suggest it may have been composed after a significant victory, such as the defeat of the Assyrians during Hezekiah's reign (Isaiah 36-37), or perhaps after the return from Babylonian exile (Ezra 1:2-3). Regardless of its exact origin, the psalm's enduring themes offer profound insights into worship, God's character, and the believer's relationship with Him.
A Call to Global Worship (66:1-4)
The psalm opens with an urgent invitation: "Shout for joy to God, all the earth!" (Psalms 66:1). This isn't a call for quiet reverence alone, but for exuberant, unrestrained praise. The psalmist urges all nations to sing the glory of God's name and make His praise glorious (Psalms 66:2). Our worship should be commensurate with the greatness of the One we worship; a great God deserves great praise. The psalmist envisions a future day when the whole earth will worship God (Psalms 66:4), a prophecy echoed in the New Testament (Philippians 2:10-11).
Remembering God's Mighty Deeds (66:5-9)
The psalmist reminds the people of God's awesome works, particularly His miraculous intervention in delivering Israel from Egypt. He recounts how God "turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot" (Psalms 66:6), referring to both the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14:15-31) and the crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:1-17). These acts demonstrate God's sovereign power over creation and His unwavering commitment to His people.
God's watchful eye extends over the entire world, and no one should presume they can defy Him (Psalms 66:7). Just as God used the waters to deliver His people, He also used them to vanquish Pharaoh's army. The rebellious should not exalt themselves. The psalm emphasizes that God preserves His own (Psalms 66:8-9), even amidst trials and tribulations.
God's Refining Process (66:10-12)
The psalm acknowledges that God's people experience hardship and oppression. The psalmist describes it as being tested like silver (Psalms 66:10). Even in these difficult circumstances, God is at work for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He allows us to encounter challenges so that He can reveal His comfort and power, refining us and preparing us for greater things. He may bring us through fire and water, but ultimately He leads us to a place of abundance (Psalms 66:12).
Fulfilling Vows and Sharing Testimony (66:13-15)
The psalmist turns to a personal expression of thanksgiving, declaring his intention to fulfill the vows he made to God during a time of distress (Psalms 66:13-14). He will offer sacrifices as a tangible expression of his gratitude, trusting God to provide for him (Psalms 66:15). This highlights the importance of honoring our commitments to God, even after the crisis has passed.
The Power of Prayer and Confession (66:16-20)
The psalm concludes with an invitation to "Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for my soul" (Psalms 66:16). The psalmist shares his testimony, praising God for answering his prayer. He acknowledges a crucial principle: "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (Psalms 66:18). Honesty and openness before God are essential. Confession and repentance are necessary if our prayers are not to be hindered (1 Peter 3:7). When we address our personal sin, we open the door to experiencing the faithful love of God (Psalms 66:20).