Pondering Psalm 65

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion;

Why is praise due to God? What has He done to deserve praise?

O you who hear prayer,

Aha. The first reason that praise is due to God. He hears prayer. How cool is it that God listens to us? That He wants to hear from us? That He knows us and still bothers to listen to us. He pays attention to what we tell Him. Isn’t having someone pay attention to us kind of a basic human longing? God pays attention to us. He hears our prayer.

to you shall all flesh come

This could be a second reason to praise God – because He allows all people to come to Him. Or it could be that because He hears prayer, all people come to Him. Which do you think?

you atone for our transgressions

There’s so much in the Old Testament that looks forward to Christ. The sacrifices at the temple atoned for sins temporarily and looked forward to the day when Jesus would permanently atone for the sins of all humanity. But even in this time of temporary atonement and daily sacrifices, God deserves praise because He offers atonement for our sins.

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts!

How does it feel to be chosen as one who can serve (and represent) God? How did the ancient Jews feel to be God’s chosen people, and the object of God’s distinct attention? Even with their chosen status, those living in ancient Israel didn’t have the access to God that we take for granted today. Not only are we chosen to serve God with our good works (Ephesians 2:10, right?), but we also have the amazing privilege of being near to God – and dwelling or living happily there! Remember the Psalm that says “Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere”? (Psalm 84:10) – it’s all about how David longs to be in God’s presence, to be near to God. We have access to that nearness to God. Jesus bought it with his blood – his atonement. Now, if we’re out of fellowship with God, we can confess our sins and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness (not just the sins we knew to confess!). Because of this we can walk in fellowship and nearness to God. This is definitely a reason to praise God.

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

I think we’re continuing the theme of being near to God – His courts, His house, His temple. This house has goodness, and his temple has holiness. Because of the goodness of His house, we are satisfied. Is this a reference to God providing all our needs out of his vast stores of owning everything? I am satisfied with the goodness of God’s house. When I remember this satisfaction, the attractions of the world fade.

By awesome deeds..

God lets us see His awesome deeds. He didn’t have to do that – he could keep us oblivious. But He lets us see some of them, and when we’re looking for them, He lets us notice more. What good gifts from God. We can praise Him for his amazing deeds.

You answer us with righteousness

We’re back to God hearing our prayer – and more that hearing, paying attention and taking the time to answer us. And not just answer us, but to answer us with righteousness. God always has the right answer. He sees through all of time, and through all of us, so He has the wisdom and all the information to have the right answer.

God of our salvation

I’m not sure what God is saving from here. But God is in the saving business – He’s a pro. What a great reason to praise and thank Him! What has he saved you and me from today?

the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas

God’s answering us does give us hope. God gives us hope. A God that brings hope to our world – He deserves praise. Hoping in God isn’t limited by location or geography. Even more praise!

who by His strength established the mountains

He created the mountains (and everything else). Praise Him for being The creator!

being girded with might

You know the old chorus “What a mighty God we serve!”? That’s another reason to praise Him.

Who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples

Which is harder for God to make peaceful, the stormy seas or tumultuous people? God is a God that brings peace to both. “Be Still and know that I am God”. He gives us the ability to calm down and be still. And He shows Himself to be God. It gives me peace to know that God is the one in control. I don’t have to figure out this life, or everything that’s going on. I can rest in His arms and know that He’s got this. That calms the tumult in me. I praise Him for that.

so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.

This seems to be to be a repeat of the ideas that He does awesome things, and that He’s not limited by geography. It doesn’t matter where I am, I can see signs of God.

You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy

The HCSB says “You make the east and west shout for joy”. I think it’s another reference to not being limited by geography, but it could be that creation everywhere shouts for joy. Creation inspires us to praise God. Creation itself praises God.

You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water, You provide grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.

God provides for the whole earth. He visits it, and waters it. I picture God with His watering can, encouraging spring to come along, and the sprouts of green to grow in the gentle, enriching rain. The rain soaks and softens the soil, making it better for growing. God is feeding the earth, and feeding the people of the earth.

You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy

What are the ways that God shows up in nature? He created the mountains, He calms the roaring waves, He waters and enriches the earth, He crowns the year with bounty… and the wagon tracks, the pastures, the hills, the meadows and the valleys.

Look at all the abundance here:

• You visit the earth and enrich it
• The river of God is full of water
• You water its furrows abundantly
• the year is crowned with bounty
• the wagon tracks overflow
• the pastures in the wilderness overflow
• the hills gird themselves with joy
• the meadows clothe themselves with flocks
• the valleys deck themselves with grain

Isn’t it interesting that the hills, the meadows and the valleys are all getting dressed? (and with joy, flocks and grain, respectively)

Does this abundance theme goes all the way back to the beginning of the Psalm?

• He hears prayer. This isn’t limited – that’s part of what makes it so amazing. His attention isn’t limited.
• All come to Him. This Psalm doesn’t use the word Grace, but that’s what comes to mind here. God’s grace isn’t limited to a few. It’s for all.
• He atones for our transgressions. Again, this is unlimited. All of our sins are paid for by Jesus. The atonement of this Psalm foreshadows this.
• We are satisfied with the goodness of His house. Because it’s a house of abundance.
• He has awesome deeds.
• He answers us with righteousness because his wisdom isn’t limited. Because His righteousness isn’t limited. Because HE isn’t limited.
• He’s the hope of all the earth. Not just part of it.

they shout and sing for joy

The earth is filled with abundance and shouting and singing for joy. Just a few verses before here, the evening and morning, or the east and west are shouting for joy too. God’s abundance isn’t limited by geography. God’s abundance isn’t limited at all! Creation itself is praising God and shouting for joy.

This Psalm feels like spring to me. In the spring, the world overflows with the hope and abundance of God. In my yard, the daffodils are blooming and the asparagus is sprouting (and ready to harvest a few sprouts!). I can see the richness of God in the spring rains, and see nature getting dressed with beauty, praising God. I want to join them and praise God. And I have every reason to! In the HCSB, this Psalm begins with “Praise is rightfully yours, God”, and the NKJV says “Praise is awaiting You, O God”. Praise is awaiting God from the whole earth, because it’s rightfully His.

This spring, I can join all creation in shouting for joy in praise of God.