Psalm 66

This is a psalm of thanksgiving as was the previous one. We do not know the writer or the occasion for sure. In this psalm God's people acknowledged His deliverance and invited other people to join them in praising Him.

 1. The nation's praise 66:1-12

66:1-4 The psalmist speaking for his nation called the other nations to join in praise by shouting, singing, and speaking. In verses 1-12 he wrote in the first person plural, but in verses 13-20 he used the first person singular. God's great acts made His enemies cringe before Him. "Feigned obedience"(v. 3, NASB) is hypocritical obedience. The psalmist meant God's enemies would pretend to obey Him because they feared His wrath if they did not really obey Him.

66:5-7 God's great acts in nature and history demonstrate His sovereign authority over all the earth. The Red Sea and Jordan River crossings demonstrated this authority to all the nations (cf. Josh. 2:9-11). Nations should therefore pause before rebelling against the Lord.

66:8-9 Again the psalmist called the nations to bless God because of what He had done in preserving Israel.

66:10-12 God had also disciplined Israel to bring out the best in her. He had put her through trials of fire and trials of water, the two prominent testing media. Through all her testings God had not abandoned His people but had brought them through to greater blessing.

 2. The psalmist's praise 66:13-20

66:13-15 The psalmist now spoke to God for himself. He provided an example for the people. He personally would praise God by offering burnt and peace sacrifices in fulfillment of his promises to God. These sacrifices were for worship, not for the expiation of sin.

66:16-20 In these verses the writer addressed the congregated nation, not God. This is declarative praise. God had answered the psalmist's petition that arose out of a pure heart. God will not listen to the prayer of a person who nurses sin in his or her heart. He hears it, of course, because He knows all, but He will not hear it in the sense of answering it under normal circumstances. The psalm closes with the psalmist's personal benediction on God for granting his petition and bestowing His loyal love.

When God's people are in need they should purify their hearts and pray. When they do, He will answer and bless them. This should cause other people to honor and praise God.