Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 66

It cannot be spoken of enough; God deserves our praise and worship. Psalm 66 is another psalm that teaches us this truth.

Psalm 66:1-4

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;  sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.  All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah

The psalmist looks back and remembers and we can do the same. Like Israel, we have been led many times through the trials of life. As they were set free from the yoke of the pharaoh, we have been set free and delivered from our sinful nature.

Psalm 66:5-9
Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him,  who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah  Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,  who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.

It’s easy to praise God when it’s easy to praise God, but as Christians we must mature into a people that also praise Him in the hard times.

Psalm 66:10-12
For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.  You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs;  you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

We forget that God uses trials and storms to purify us. We are being turned from rough rocks into diamonds. Even when we are the cause of our own suffering, God uses the consequences of our sins to make us like Christ. Thus, we can rejoice in joyful praise. Thus, we can come to His house and offer back.

Psalm 66:13-15
I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you,  that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.  I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

We must come to God in confession and repentance. We must let Him have our hearts to be changed and recreated into light and salt to show others of His majesty.

Psalm 66:16-19
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.  I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.  If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

God hears our prayers when we come as sinners seeking His mercy and His grace. He loves us so much He sent Jesus to be our savior. We should bless God with all our praise and worship Him with all we have.

Psalm 66:20
Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

Amen