Psalm 66:1-12 – With God we can expect triumph

This Psalm addressed the choir director although the author is not known. Psalm 66 is one of the fifty other Psalms that is written anonymously. However, the title tells us that it’s not just a Psalm but also a song. This means that it was to be sung accompanied by instrument. The key theme is to extol God for the enormous deliverance.

This Psalm opens by admonishing the whole earth to praise God. Without denial God is worthy of praise. This is the Psalmist assertion. He calls for all to make a joyful noise to the Lord, meaning we should openly express our praise and thanksgiving to Him. His name is to be sung gloriously. God’s name represents His entirety. It is the total revelation of Who God is. Not only should we praise Him, we should make the praise glorious.  This God is great and powerful and there would be enemies who would never take Him seriously. Although we are not where God had purposed the whole earth to be, yet we are assured that all the earth will ultimately worship and praise Him, and exhort His glorious name.

In light of the greatness of God, verses 5-6 invite everyone to come and see His works. It’s a call to submit to this great God. These verses reminisced the scene in Exodus where the people crossed the sea on dry ground. And it was Him who had dried up the water of the sea so that His people could walk across it on dry land. The works of God reflect His greatness, thus His people should rejoice in Him. God is still on the throne. He rules now and will reign forever by His great might. And He will keep His people within sight. Hence everyone, including His enemies, are urged to submit to Him.

Then in verses 8-12, the Psalmist turns to exhort the people of God to bless Him and to make His name known. He has been and will always be the God that sustains His people. He makes sure that the feet of His own will not slip in tumultuous times, tough circumstance may be there with their destructive intent. But with God’s help, they will not destroy but toughen us. The circumstance may try us, but with proper response we will become refined silver. Or as Job had said, “When He had tried us, we shall come forth pure as gold.” In the face of multiple hardship, God had never forsaken His people and He is not about to forsake us now. The trials may be oppressive, the opponents may seem to have won, and the unpleasant experiences may be relentless and varied. Troubles like fire may seem to scorch, or as water that overwhelms till we are almost drowned. Yet, ultimately God will bring us into a land of abundance.  

God is worthy of all our praise and worship. Whether congenial or uncongenial, we must praise and worship Him. These we must do daily and consistently. We would not allow the circumstances in life to wilt us. Focusing on God and trusting Him will triumphantly lead us into God’s place of abundance. He never fails!