This Psalm opens with an exuberant call to all the earth to shout joyfully to God and sing the glory of His name. The psalmist invites everyone to witness and celebrate the wondrous works that God has done. The themes of praise and thanksgiving resonate throughout the psalm, emphasizing God’s mighty deeds and faithfulness. This Psalm is a compelling expression of gratitude and awe, encouraging believers to recount God’s faithfulness and to lift up songs of praise. It reflects on God’s sovereignty over creation and history, inviting all people to join in proclaiming His greatness and giving Him the honour He deserves.
A Call To Worship His Name
Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.” – Psalms 66:1-4 (NIV)
The passage urges all people on earth to joyfully praise God and sing about the glory of His name. The Psalmist emphasizes the awe-inspiring nature of God’s deeds and the immense power He possesses, which causes His enemies to cower in fear. The Psalmist extends this call to worship beyond His own people, suggesting that all of creation should bow down and sing praises to God. This sentiment aligns with Jesus’ teachings, who once indicated that if people failed to praise God, even the stones themselves would cry out in worship. This highlights the importance of acknowledging and glorifying God’s name throughout all creation. Jesus took upon himself the sins of all people in the world, not just those of a specific group or sect.
Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!
He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations— let not the rebellious rise up against him. – Psalms 66:5-7 (NIV)
A Call To Witness His Deeds
The Psalmist highlights specific historical events that demonstrate God’s mighty deeds and sovereignty over creation and invites the listener to witness and reflect on the remarkable works that God has accomplished for all the people dwelling on this earth. A stage has been set up for recounting God’s extraordinary acts. The miraculous event of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea during the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14) where God, through His power, parted the sea, allowing the Israelites to walk on dry land through the midst of the waters. This miraculous deliverance showcased God’s provision and protection for His people, serving as a powerful reminder that inspires them to praise Him abundantly.
“Come, let us rejoice in him” – The psalmist calls for rejoicing and celebration in response to God’s saving acts. This rejoicing reflects gratitude and acknowledgement of God’s faithfulness and deliverance. This is possible only when we look upon God as the Creator, and for the Creator, everything is possible as He has control over His creations forever. The Psalmist emphasises God’s eternal kingship and sovereignty. God’s power is not temporary or limited; He reigns supremely over all nations, and His watchful eyes observe the entire world.
“Let not the rebellious rise up against him” – Instead of attributing this warning to the wicked who rebel against God, let us take it as a caution for ourselves not to disobey our Sovereign God in our lives. The psalmist recognizes that God’s rule is fair and absolute, and those who oppose Him do so at great risk. This portion of the Psalm reminds us to rejoice in God’s greatness and acknowledges His enduring sovereignty over all nations, urging obedience and reverence towards Him.
A Call To Worship The Saviour
Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard;
he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. – Psalms 66:8-9 (NIV)
God graciously preserves the lives of even the wicked, purifying them through the sacrifice of His Son. Unfortunately, many fail to comprehend this and return to their worldly ways, showing no gratitude for His mercy. Furthermore, countless individuals remain unaware of the danger of eternal death, thus neglecting to acknowledge God’s kindness in rescuing us from spiritual peril. Despite no one seeking their own salvation due to ignorance, God, in His boundless love, voluntarily offered His Son as a sacrifice to deliver us from the consequences of sin.
For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.
You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs.
You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance. – Psalms 66:10-12 (NIV)
The Psalmist reflects on how God brings salvation to His people by preserving them through trials and refining them like silver. Many misunderstand this refining process as punishment. The imagery of passing through water and fire symbolizes the trials faced by the psalmist, ultimately resulting in abundance and renewal. The Psalmist urges all nations to proclaim God’s praises and bear witness to His righteousness and deliverance, by experiencing the refining process in their personal lives.
A Call For A True And Wise Worship
I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you—
vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.
I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats. – Psalms 66:13-15 (NIV)
After recalling God’s saving acts, the Psalmist commits to offering a burnt offering according to the law and fulfilling the pledges made. God instructed His people to offer their animals as sacrifices not to consume the animal’s fat, but to make the sinners understand the gravity of their sins through the innocent animal’s death. God desired heartfelt repentance from His people when the priest symbolically transferred their sins to the animal by laying hands on its head. However, instead of recognising the meaning of the sacrifice being made, they treated it as a mere fee for sin, assuming purification to continue sinning without remorse.
Even today, many misunderstand the Holy Communion, viewing it merely as a ritual to cleanse them. Similarly, in ancient times, people failed to grasp the true purpose of their sacrifices. Today, congregants often overlook the true meaning of the Holy Communion, turning it into a routine part of Sunday worship, satisfying a legalistic adherence to church traditions while forgetting the grace of God. The Holy Communion is meant to commemorate God’s love revealed through His Son and inspire a deeper love for Him each day. However, its true significance has been lost, with some believing that repeated participation in the communion service absolves them of sin, enabling them to continue in wrongdoing without genuine repentance.
The grace of God calls upon us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him, for it was purchased by the precious blood of His Son, Jesus. Scripture guides us to see this act as a genuine and wise form of worship, a true and holy dedication of our bodies to Him.
A Call To Worship God For His Unconditional Love
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.
Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me! – Psalms 66:16-20 (NIV)
The psalmist invites all who fear God to listen to his testimony of God’s faithfulness and answered prayer. He begins by recounting his personal experience with God: he cried out to Him in prayer, and his mouth was filled with praise for God. It is noteworthy that his mouth was not filled with complaints and laments. This demonstrates a heart turned towards God in genuine supplication and gratitude.
The psalmist acknowledges a vital principle of prayer: sincerity and repentance. He affirms that if he had harboured sin in his heart, the Lord would not have listened to his prayers. This reflects the importance of a repentant heart and a genuine turning away from sin in approaching God with requests. The prophet Isaiah also says that our transgressions are hiding His face from us.
The psalmist rejoices that God listened and responded to his prayer, demonstrating God’s mercy and grace. While some may misunderstand this as being about their own worthiness, the psalmist attributes praise and thanks to God for not rejecting his prayer or withholding His love. This illustrates God’s faithfulness and willingness to respond to sincere seekers. Ultimately, it is God who makes us righteous through the righteousness of His Son, Jesus. This gracious act of God extends even to us when we are sinners.
God, help us to approach you with reverence, honesty, and a willingness to turn away from sin, trusting in your steadfast love and faithfulness.
The Jordan Valley 
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