HEADING. ‘For the Chief Musician. A Song, a Psalm.' This Psalm is dedicated to the Chief Musician or Choirmaster. It probably indicates that it has been adapted for Temple worship. It is described as both a song and a Psalm, but it is noteworthy that no reference is made to authorship. The dedicati... [ Continue Reading ]
PART 1. 1). GOD'S CALL TO THE NATIONS (PSALMS 66:1). A) A CALL FOR THE WHOLE EARTH TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP, AND TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION OF GOD, IN VIEW OF THE DELIVERANCE THAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED (PSALMS 66:1). ‘Make a joyful noise (or ‘shout') to God, All the earth, Sing forth the glory of his na... [ Continue Reading ]
B). A CALL FOR THEM TO REMEMBER AND TAKE NOTE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR HIS PEOPLE IN THE PAST (PSALMS 66:5). The nations are now called on to consider what God has done in the past (the crossing of the Red Sea and the crossing of the Jordan are to some extent combined in the description), in reveal... [ Continue Reading ]
C). A WARNING TO THE NATIONS TO REMEMBER IN THE LIGHT OF HIS HISTORIC ACTIVITY THAT HE IS OBSERVING THEM (PSALMS 66:7). Psalms 66:7 ‘He rules by his might for ever, His eyes observe the nations, Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. [Selah.' And just as God observed what the Egyptians were se... [ Continue Reading ]
D). THE NATIONS ARE TO TAKE NOTE OF THE WONDERFUL DELIVERANCE FROM A DISASTROUS EXPERIENCE THAT HIS PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED (PSALMS 66:8). The words that follow indicate some special trial that His people had faced. Whilst it is possible that these words reflect the Exile, with the people seeing the... [ Continue Reading ]
PART 2). ISRAEL'S GRATEFUL RESPONSE TO GOD'S DELIVERANCE REVEALED IN OFFERINGS AND THE FULFILMENT OF VOWS, AND A CALL FOR CONSIDERATION OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS IN ANSWERING PRAYER (PSALMS 66:13). a) Deliverance Having Been Accomplished Each Individual In Israel, Speaking In Unison, (Or The King As Th... [ Continue Reading ]
B) A CALL TO CONSIDER THE WAY IN WHICH GOD HAS ANSWERED HIS (OR THEIR) PRAYER BECAUSE HIS (THEIR) HEART WAS RIGHT TOWARDS GOD (PSALMS 66:16). The Psalm ends with an emphasis on the fact that God has answered prayer. The king was an intercessory priest after the order of Melchizedek (see introductio... [ Continue Reading ]