Psalm 66
Psalms of praise to God are read during the Epiphany season. The five sections of Psalm 66 give reasons why all the earth should praise the Lord God. This Psalm was written to be a hymn of praise to God sung during the worship services in the Temple.
Section one (verses 1 to 4) encourages the whole earth to honor God with songs of praise. Those who know of God’s merciful forgiveness have much to “say to God.” The “awesome works” and the “greatness of Your power” refer more to the Messiah’s work of salvation than just to miracles. For the Messiah came to destroy death and redeem all people from sin. The message of salvation has gone into all the earth and people from every nation praise and honor the name of Jesus because of His salvation.
Section two (verses 5 to 7) asks us to meditate on the Exodus as a work of God. For God set free 2 million people who were under the bondage of slavery in Egypt. When they were trapped at the Red Sea, God opened the sea and allowed them to walk through it on “dry land.” Forty years later, God did the same miracle at the swollen River Jordan when the waters backed up and the Children of Israel crossed over on foot. These miracles demonstrate God’s power, that He alone rules, and that He observes all things.
God has made us His children by means of the “washing of water by the word” so that we are cleansed from sin and made heirs of eternal life. And at the end of our life, God will carry us through death, across the “river Jordan,” into His eternal Promised Land.
Section three (verses 8 to 12) speaks about God’s gracious providence even during afflictions. Verse 8 calls on God’s people to bless Him, “who keeps our soul among the living.” Then other verses speak about God’s testing us: refining as silver, catching in the net, laying affliction on us, causing people ride over us. As Hebrews 12 states, such testing can be grievous at first. However, though God brought them through trials such as fire and water, “You brought us out to rich fulfillment” (v. 15b). God used the trials to burn off the dross from our faith and to make that faith stronger.
“Whom the Lord loves He chastens” (Heb 12:6), but it produces fruits of faith in those who are trained by it. We also should loudly praise God for His loving ways.
The fourth section (verses 13 to 15), states what the Psalm writer will do to praise the Lord God: go into the Temple, pay his own vows, and offer sacrifices of praise to God.
Section five (verses 16 to 19) calls on people to hear what God has done in answering prayer and forgiving sin. To “regard iniquity” means not to repent of it. Then God will not hear such prayer. However, verse 16 states that God has heard and gives His mercy.