Charles Spurgeon observed this about the uncommon pairing of Psalm and Song for this composition: “The Hebrew calls it a Shur and Mizmor“. This Psalm, while observed in a literary sense, is important to note for its significance. The initial portion of the Psalm follows the typical pattern of God using the Psalmist to prophesy the mysteries of His kingdom, while the second portion is a song of admiration for God, celebrating His wonderful and incomparable creations. When we are feeling spiritually and physically drained, God guides us to convey His message through us. Simultaneously, this Psalm serves as a reminder to contemplate the marvels of God’s creations, especially in times of distress or disillusionment caused by those around us.
Praise Awaits You, Our God
Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.
Psalm 65:1-2 (NIV)
You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.
The Psalmist vividly portrayed the joy that God would experience as a result of the obedience of His Son, Jesus. This is documented by the prophet Isaiah in chapter 53, verse 11 of his book: “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”
What does the vow refer to? It pertains to the surrender of our body, soul, and mind to the one who redeemed us with the unblemished blood of His Son, Jesus. Every individual on this earth should recognize the love and grace bestowed upon them and pledge themselves to God as a living sacrifice. This Psalm emphasizes the truth that God sacrificed the life of His Son as atonement for the sins of all people on earth, and as redeemed individuals, all should come to Him.
Blessed Are Those You Choose
When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.
Psalms 65:3-4 (NIV)
Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.
The above passage addresses two common misconceptions among believers. Firstly, it discusses the idea of the chosen people, and secondly, it explores the concept of the goodness of the house of God. Believers often tend to separate themselves from others, believing that they are specifically chosen by God and that no one else has this privilege. However, John 3:16 explains that God has chosen to save all people from perishing. This dominating approach among believers may stem from the belief that the chosen are few, and only a select few truly understand this and come to God. Furthermore, those who brand themselves as chosen often dismiss others, leading them to believe that they are not part of the chosen people.
There is a prevailing belief that items within the church are sacred, and that obtaining something from the church would bring blessings upon one’s family. This misconception has led to the organization of auctions and carnivals within the church for fundraising purposes. Consequently, some individuals who may not genuinely support the cause end up spending excessively to acquire items from the church’s altar, under the belief that these objects hold the power to bless them and their families. There are even cases of people clandestinely removing items from the church, convinced that these objects would serve as a source of blessings for them. However, the Psalmist had portrayed the love and grace of God as the good things of the house of God and longed to remain in the courts of the temple.
You Answer Us With Righteous Deeds
You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.
Psalms 65:5-7 (NIV)
In the passage above, the psalm’s prophetic message is intertwined with the magnificence of God, the creator of the universe through His omnipotence. Many seek extraordinary and wondrous acts from God, while a select few acknowledge His just deeds. The Just God did not manipulate His own laws as their creator, but rather provided atonement through the life of His Son in righteous fulfillment of His laws. Although God possesses the power to annul the laws He has established, He has chosen not to do so. Instead, He paid the full price for our sins. The Creator is always in full control. People those do not understand the omnipotency of God often fail to understand God’s control and attribute it to the devil.
Provide The People With Grain
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.
Psalms 65:8-11 (NIV)
Until we learn to truly appreciate the sacrifice God made for us, His creations will continue to astound us. Taking a cue from the Psalmist, we ought to marvel at and acknowledge the beauty of the world around us in order to comprehend the magnitude of God’s power. In times of illness and isolation, turning our gaze to His creations can invigorate our weary bodies and uplift our flagging spirits.
The pace of modernisation and automation is rapidly transforming our world. This rapid progress often obscures the ancient creator’s intricate design, which automated Earth’s ecological and meteorological systems, established the planets in their orbits, and programmed them to revolve around the Sun with precise timing. The awe-inspiring movement of these colossal celestial bodies through space, without faltering, is beyond human imagination.
The Lord grants mankind the ability to comprehend His designs and develop modern machinery from His creations. However, humanity fails to acknowledge the creative authority of God. The pride in their innovations blinds them from seeking the Creator, leaving them stranded without reaching Him.
The provision of essential resources such as air, water, and food by God transcends human measurement. These vital elements are provided to us without cost. Throughout the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, there was a struggle to produce oxygen at the required rate, and many individuals were unable to afford it. Consider the implications if a monetary value were placed on these three fundamental necessities by our creator. It is a profound reminder of the priceless nature of these provisions, provided to us gracefully.
Joyful Singing
The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.
Psalms 65:12-13 (NIV)
In the above passage, the Psalmist captured the beauty of the earth and its luscious look. Imagine on the day he penned this beautiful picture, there were neither cameras with higher-end pixels, nor drones to cover the areal view, yet the spirit of God would have carried him to see His creations and the beautiful arrangements of array and helped the psalmist to record it, as if we are seeing a picture. Is it not wonderful?
The Psalmist describes the lush greenery as praising their Creator with joyous songs. It seems almost unbelievable in today’s context, but Jesus Himself once said that if we don’t praise and rejoice, the very stones will do it in our place. In the past, the concept of sound waves existing everywhere at specific frequencies would have been met with skepticism. However, the development of radio and transistors proved this to be true, allowing people to enjoy listening to them. Today, with the ability to receive sound waves travelling through the atmosphere and connect with others in distant places, it is conceivable that the wondrous elements of nature are indeed singing praises to their Creator. Perhaps one day, God will enable us to hear their melodies as well.
Lord, Help us appreciate the goodness you have bestowed upon us by acknowledging the sacredness of your domain. Grant us the wisdom to honour our bodies as the sacred temples of your Holy presence.
The Jordan Valley 
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