Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does Psalms Chapter 66 mean?

No author is assigned to this psalm. David might have written it, but it is likely this song was composed much later. Two possible events are thought of as most likely to have inspired this psalm. One is the defeat of the Assyrian forces who attacked Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—37). Another is when Israel began to return from exile after being conquered by Babylon (Ezra 1:2–3).

This psalm begins with a worldwide invitation to worship God. The psalmist points to the Lord’s miraculous interventions as reason to give Him praise. A highlight of these miracles was the parting of the Red Sea. There, God rescued the nation of Israel from the pursuing Egyptians. The Lord pushed the waters aside so Israel could cross on dry land, then closed those waters over the Egyptian army (Exodus 14). Because God is watching the entire world, no one should presume they can defy Him. For all these reasons, the people of Israel should be especially eager to worship (Psalm 66:1–9).

Israel had suffered many hardships. Some of those were unprovoked attacks by enemies. In other cases, Israel brought those struggles on themselves by ignoring their God. Still, through all of that, God kept the nation intact and its people alive. An example of this is when Israel spent forty years wandering in the wilderness. That was due to their own sin (Numbers 14:27–33). Yet the Lord used this time to “refine” the nation and prepare them to take the Promised Land (Psalm 66:10–12).

The psalm ends by turning to address the people, likely those of Israel. The psalmist declares that he will make good on vows he has made to God. These appear to have been spoken during some severe danger or other trouble. The psalmist intends to fulfill those vows by offering sacrifices to the Lord. He then calls on those who claim belief in the God of Israel to hear about his experience. He honors the Lord for hearing his prayer and rescuing him (Psalm 66:13–20).

Chapter Context
This is a psalm of thanksgiving, but the occasion that prompted it is unknown. It may have been written after the Lord defeated the Assyrians (Isaiah 36—37). Another possibility is that it was recorded following the return from Babylonian captivity (Ezra 1:2–3).

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

The psalmist calls on the whole world, including both Israel and the Gentile nations, to worship the Lord.

God called Israel His chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2). In the Old Testament, phrases such as “the nations” or other references to Gentiles are often symbolic of unbelief. However, this does not mean that God had no love for cultures outside of Israel. In fact, God chose Israel to be His witness to the Gentiles (Isaiah 43:10).

Further, the Lord chose Israel to be the nation through which salvation would come. Jesus provided salvation by shedding His blood on the cross; He was born of the tribe of Judah and descended from Israel’s beloved King David. John 4:22 says, “salvation is from the Jews.” John 3:16 makes it clear that the offer of salvation is not limited to the Jews; it extends to the whole world. God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

The good news of salvation provides ample reason for all the earth to shout joyfully to God!

The title of the psalm refers to a “choirmaster,” or “chief musician.” This seems to have been the person who led group worship, such as near the temple.

Context Summary
Psalm 66:1–9 opens with a call to praise extended to the entire world. The psalmist declares God’s awesome might. He reflects on the Lord’s incredible acts of power. Among these are His provision for Israel’s safe passage through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–22). God is watching the whole earth; no one should arrogantly think they can defy Him. God’s people should be particularly worshipful for the ways God has preserved them.

Verse 2. sing the glory of his name;give to him glorious praise!

A person’s “name” represents their reputation and authority. Government officials act “in the name of” their state. God’s “name” has glory because of His holy, good, loving, merciful, and just character. This verse continues a call for the entire world to worship the God of Israel (Psalm 66:1). Of course, both Jewish and Gentile people have been in rebellion against God from the beginning. Genesis 11 tells how mankind attempted to establish their own name, after the flood. They cooperated to build a tower that reached high into the sky (Genesis 11:1–4). They seem to have wanted a high platform for prestige, a good view of the stars, or a way of mitigating any future floods from God. However, their plan failed. God descended, confused the builders’ language, and scattered them over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:5–8).

One day, Jesus will return to earth and the tribes of Israel will repent and believe on Him as their Messiah. After that, the nations of the world will be converted. They will go to Jerusalem annually to worship the Lord (Zechariah 14:16). They will bow to Jesus and confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10–11).

Verse 3. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

Twice in these early verses, the psalmist refers to God’s deeds as “awesome” (Psalm 66:5). In modern English, that word is typically used to mean “very good.” But its earlier meaning is that something produces “awe:” an overwhelming feeling of wonder, reverence, and even fear. All these ideas are tied to the Hebrew word used, which is yare’.

God’s actions reveal great power, which causes enemies to cower before Him. The writer will cite the parting of the Red Sea as an example of God’s mighty deeds (Psalm 66:6). The Old Testament overflows with descriptions of incredible and powerful things which the Lord has done. Creation demonstrates God’s mighty power (Psalm 19:1). He simply spoke, and everything sprang into existence (Hebrews 11:3).

When the Hebrews journeyed through the wilderness, God defeated their enemies and provided a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them (Exodus 13:21–22). He miraculously provided water from a rock to quench their thirst (Exodus 17:3–6) and sent manna and quail to satisfy their hunger (Psalm 105:40–42). He opened the ground to swallow the rebellious Korah and his companions (Numbers 16:28–31). He enabled His people to conquer Canaan and settle in it (Deuteronomy 7:1–8). In Canaan, God’s power brought down the walls of Jericho without any attack from His people (Joshua 6). Rahab, a non-Israelite noticed how the inhabitants of Jericho cringed in fear because of God’s mighty power on Israel’s behalf (Joshua 2:9).

Verse 4. All the earth worships youand sings praises to you;they sing praises to your name.” Selah

The psalmist indicates that the whole world worships God and sings praises to Him. This is phrased in the present tense. Of course, when the psalm was written, only Israel consistently worshipped the One True God. To an extent, all worship reflects the sense that God exists and is worthy of praise (John 4:22). More likely is that this verse is looking to the future.

Though nations oppose God’s rule now, this situation will be resolved. During the chaotic period following Jesus’ removal of the church from the world, a remnant of Jews will believe in Christ. That group will herald the gospel to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 7). At His return to earth Jesus will judge the nations. The nations that rejected the saved Jews’ message will be consigned to eternal punishment, but those who accepted their message and believed on Jesus will be accepted into His kingdom (Matthew 25:31–46).

Despite the broad language, these judgments are made at the individual level. Heaven includes ransomed people of God from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Revelation 5:9–10; 7:9; 21:26).

Verse 5. Come and see what God has done:he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

This continues an appeal to the entire world to praise God joyfully (Psalm 66:1–4). Here, the psalmist invites them to consider the incredible signs which God has given so we can know Him. This verse repeats (Psalm 66:3) use of the word “awesome,” which implies something astounding or overwhelming. By His almighty power God performed miraculous deeds. Those acts gave both Israelites and Gentiles clear evidence of His power and sovereignty. The parting of the Red Sea is one such act (Psalm 66:6).

However, the Lord’s works were not limited to that historic event. Creation testifies to His omnipotence and sovereignty (Psalm 19:1). Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” The world of diverse terrain, varied climates, unique life, what we can see of the planets and space, the orderly laws of nature—not to mention human life, itself—all bear witness to God’s infinite power (Romans 1:18–20).

Verse 6. He turned the sea into dry land;they passed through the river on foot.There did we rejoice in him,

The psalmist reminds the world (Psalm 66:1) about one of God’s awesome deeds: turning the Red Sea into dry land for the Hebrews’ safe passage. This story is recorded in Exodus chapter 14.

The entire nation of Israel had fled from Egypt (Exodus 12:51), but they found themselves hemmed in at the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s elite cavalry bearing down on them (Exodus 14:1–4). There was no possible escape; but God can do what men find impossible (Luke 1:37). The Hebrews were afraid and cried out to Lord (Exodus 14:10). They expected to be killed (Exodus 14:11). Moses reassured Israel that God intended to save His people, and that the pursuing Egyptians would never be seen again (Exodus 14:13). At the Lord’s direction, Moses gestured over the sea (Exodus 14:16). Then God pushed the water back so the Hebrews could cross on dry land (Exodus 14:21–22). The Egyptians tried to follow, but God let the water return and they were drowned (Exodus 14:23–29). Moses and the people celebrated with a joyful song to the Lord (Exodus 15).

Verse 7. who rules by his might forever,whose eyes keep watch on the nations —let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

As God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2), Israel was unique. References to “the nations” in the Old Testament usually imply people not part of that relationship: Gentiles. In this psalm, that idea is being blended with the more literal idea of every person and tribe on earth (Psalm 66:1). The nations were ruled by kings, but the psalmist referred to God as the sovereign who reigns forever. Those with thoughts of mutiny against the Lord are advised to keep their arrogance in check.

Earthly kings come and go. The King of the universe is eternal. He is greater than any country; He keeps watch over the entire world. As the One who chose Israel for His own purposes, God acted as a watchman—a defender, when necessary—to see what other nations planned to do. A powerful example is His destruction of a huge Assyrian force which besieged Jerusalem when Hezekiah was king. God’s angel killed tens of thousands of enemy soldiers overnight (Isaiah 37:36) and the survivors quickly fled to their own country.

The book of Revelation predicts the final defeat of the unruly, rebellious nations. John (Revelation 1:1) describes a satanic figure and kings of the earth with gathered armies to make war against Christ (Revelation 19:19). However, Christ slays them without resistance (Revelation 19:15, 19–21). Considering what God had done to “the nations” and would do, rebellion against God is unwise.

Verse 8. Bless our God, O peoples;let the sound of his praise be heard,

Again (Psalm 66:1), the psalmist calls upon the entire world of mankind to acclaim the Lord. Israel’s very existence was meant to provide clear evidence that God is good and almighty (Deuteronomy 14:2). The Gentiles could not deny that God cared for His people. At times, He defended them with awesome power (Isaiah 37:36; Exodus 14:21–22). Even when Israel was humbled, it was under God’s control and for His purposes (2 Kings 18:11–12).

Today, both Jews and Gentiles who believe on Jesus as Savior have overwhelming evidence of His goodness, and this evidence leads them to bless God. In Ephesians, the apostle Paul reminds Ephesian Christians that God has provided encouragement through Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Believers should praise the Lord God because He chose them, made them holy (Ephesians 1:4), predestined them to become His children (Ephesians 1:5), redeemed them through Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 1:7), forgave them (Ephesians 1:7), poured incredible grace and wisdom on them (Ephesians 1:8), and allowed a glimpse into the mystery of His will (Ephesians 1:9).

Verse 9. who has kept our soul among the livingand has not let our feet slip.

The psalmist credits God with preserving His chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2). Despite harsh conditions and hostile enemies, He protected Israel during the wilderness wanderings (Psalm 105:40–42). At times He supernaturally intervened in attacks made against them. An example of this is when the massive Assyrian army laid siege to Jerusalem. God answered that threat by slaying tens of thousands of enemy soldiers (Isaiah 36—37). Despite their troubles, God has preserved His people through the centuries.

He will also protect them during the coming tribulation. Revelation 12 describes some of this end-times persecution; saved Jewish persons will receive a safe hiding place (Revelation 12:13–14). God can be trusted to protect and preserve His people! Jude 1:24 promises that He is able to keep believers from falling and escort them safely into “the presence of his glory with great joy.”

Verse 10. For you, O God, have tested us;you have tried us as silver is tried.

God chose Israel as His people (Deuteronomy 14:2). However, the nation defied Him not long after He’d rescued them from slavery in Egypt (Numbers 14:1–4). So, God sent the people into a forty-year wandering through the wilderness (Numbers 14:27–33). The psalmist refers to this using the Hebrew word tsâraph, referring to the process of melting precious metals to remove impurities. Israel’s trials in the wilderness were meant to refine them in the same way silver is purified with fire (Psalm 66:12).

Further refining of Israel awaits during the end times. Malachi 3:3 predicts, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.” The purpose of God’s testing is not to punish. Rather, He disciplines and proves the genuineness of His people’s faith. Peter mentions the grief brought by hardships; he also points out that the purpose of the trials is to test the genuineness of faith. Tested, genuine faith will lead to blessings when Christ returns (1 Peter 1:6–7).

Context Summary
Psalm 66:10–12 gives context to the idea that God has protected and preserved His people, thereby giving everyone a reason to praise Him (Psalm 66:1). Here, the psalmist poetically recalls God testing His chosen people of Israel. This likely refers to Israel’s journey through the wilderness after leaving Egypt (Numbers 14:27–33). Despite hard times and many enemies, the Lord preserved the Israelites and brought them into Canaan.

Verse 11. You brought us into the net;you laid a crushing burden on our backs;

The psalmist recalls Israel’s past afflictions. These difficulties felt as if God had tangled them in a hunter’s net and dropped a massive weight onto them. The imagery is clear: the people of Israel sometimes felt there was no way to escape their trials and they were greatly burdened by them. However, the Lord was disciplining them, so they would stop following worldly things and follow Him, instead (Jeremiah 32:33; Leviticus 26:21). In the end, the people came to where God intended them to be (Psalm 66:12).

Similarly, a born-again Christian faces discipline. The Father in heaven disciplines His erring children, in love, for their own good (Hebrews 12:5–9). Sin and waywardness often lead to serious consequences (Proverbs 8:35–36). Yet in His love, God often uses those consequences to turn a sinning believer away from something even worse. When that happens, the believer may sympathize with the prodigal son who left home, wasted his money on pleasure, only to wind up destitute. Those dire circumstances inspired a repentant heart and return home to his father (Luke 15:11–24).

Verse 12. you let men ride over our heads;we went through fire and through water;yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

Continuing his description of Israel’s testing at God’s hands, the psalmist symbolically describes the Israelites’ former suffering. The imagery here is of horses being ridden over the heads of victims. The implication is that Israel’s trials felt harsh and unbearable. Likewise, their struggles involved varieties of hardship: like going through burning fire in one moment and overwhelming water the next. However, the psalmist realizes God’s discipline in these things. He credits God with bringing Israel out to a spacious and prosperous place: the Promised Land of Canaan.

The cycle of discipline begins with sin, then moves to suffering leading to repentance, which brings God’s forgiveness and blessing. Isaiah 43:2 holds a promise for Israel. It assures Israel, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” “Through” is a key word in this promise. It reveals that affliction is temporary; there is an exit! God permits trials to turn a believer back to Himself and to bring him into a place of blessing. He doesn’t intend to use trials to make a believer bitter but to make them better!

Verse 13. I will come into your house with burnt offerings;I will perform my vows to you,

The psalmist begins his personal conclusion to Psalm 66 with a promise to the Lord. He promises to enter the place of worship with sacrifices to honor God. He intends to also fulfill his other promises. Some burnt offerings were required by the Law (Leviticus 6:9–13), while others were voluntary and represented the worshiper’s dedication to the Lord (Leviticus 1:13). Romans 12:1 exhorts believers to offer their bodies to God as a living sacrifice, “holy and acceptable.” Having made this commitment to God, believers should obey His will.

Vows were to be taken seriously. They were a person’s promises to God regarding his intention to obey God in specified matters. Numbers 30:2 holds a person accountable to fulfill his vows by saying, “If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” The anonymous writer of this psalm had promised something to God during a time of personal trouble (Psalm 66:14); here, he declares his intent to make good on it (Numbers 30:2).

Context Summary
Psalm 66:13–20 addresses God, then the congregation. This comes after calling upon the nations to worship God because of His marvelous deeds on behalf of Israel. The psalmist wants to tell the assembled people that God heard his prayer and answered it. He concludes this section by praising God for answering prayer and extending His loyal love.

Verse 14. that which my lips utteredand my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly who recorded this psalm. Nor do we know the nature of this psalmist’s “trouble.” He has already declared his intention to make an offering to the Lord while also fulfilling his vows (Psalm 66:13). Here, it seems that those vows were made when the psalmist was under some threat or other stress. Rather than shrugging off his vows as insincere, the writer intends to honor his commitments to the Lord.

Scripture doesn’t forbid making vows, but it discourages vows from being made casually (Numbers 30:2; Proverbs 20:25). A promise made to God should always be kept (Deuteronomy 23:21–23). Failure to honor promises to God is tantamount to lying to Him. Jesus advocated against making spontaneous vows at all (Matthew 5:33–37).

Verse 15. I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

The psalmist promised to offer the Lord burnt offerings (Psalm 66:13) which he seems to have promised when praying during a time of great trouble (Psalm 66:14). Here, he describes those sacrifices in greater detail. The list of so many animals suggests trouble was serious, and that he is deeply grateful for answered prayer.

Saved believers should feel gratitude to the Lord for salvation. The natural reaction to this is to offer oneself to God as a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). This means submitting every part of one’s life to His will. It means a believer should offer the Lord his time, talent, and treasure. He should give to the Lord willingly, generously, and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:5–7).

First Peter 2:5 reveals that Christians “are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Christians should hold nothing back from God; He gave an infinite sacrifice for us (Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 9:15). The size of our giving doesn’t matter as much as the level of faith our gift implies. Jesus commended a poor woman who put two small copper coins into the temple’s offering box. He noted: “She out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:44).

The word selah is not clearly defined. It may refer to a pause, or a musical break; sometimes it is interpreted as a call for reflection.

Verse 16. Come and hear, all you who fear God,and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

When the Lord does something powerful in a believer’s life, it’s natural for the blessed person to want to share that experience with others. This is what the psalmist does here: inviting the assembled people to listen to his story. In his case, it seems to have involved great trouble and God’s gracious response (Psalm 66:13–15).

Though the psalmist’s story may be dramatic, that is not the case for all who have been helped by the Lord. And yet, all redeemed children of God have a testimony to share. The apostle Paul told Timothy that Jesus came into the world for the salvation of sinners, and that he considered himself the worst (1 Timothy 1:15). His testimony involved a drastically changed mind and heart.

When Jesus cleansed a distraught man of demons, He told the man to go home and “declare how much God has done for you” (Luke 8:39). The rescued man was so grateful that “he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:39).

Sharing our experiences with God’s grace doesn’t require an action-packed, dramatic story. Nor does the Lord does tell His people to share deep theological wisdom with others. Such things can be helpful, but the simplest and most important cornerstone of witnessing to others is to simply tell others how much God has done for us.

Verse 17. I cried to him with my mouth,and high praise was on my tongue.

God answered the desperate prayer of this psalmist (Psalm 66:13–15). Now that writer continues to urge others to join in praise (Psalm 66:16). As the passage continues, he will go on to explain how sin can interfere with our ability to communicate with the Lord.

Prayer and praise go well together. A believer is right to cry out to God to hear his prayer. After all, God has urged believers to call out to Him: “Call to me and I will answer” (Jeremiah 33:3). No concern is too small or too big for God to hear and answer. Hebrews 4:16 urges believers to approach God with confident prayer, rather than fear. God will respond with helpful mercy instead of condemnation. Paul urged the believers of Philippi to set aside fear, instead asking God for everything they needed. That trusting attitude would bring a supernatural peace (Philippians 4:6–7).

Verse 18. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,the Lord would not have listened.

God is never obligated to give people their desires, regardless of how pious a person may be. And yet, Scripture also indicates that God is more inclined to hear the prayers of those who honor Him and avoid evil in their own hearts. In part, this is because those who truly honor God are more attuned to His will: what they ask for is more likely to be what He has already planned. God doesn’t ignore a believer’s prayers, even if they sin. But the prayers of someone with no respect for God aren’t likely to be answered.

To “cherish iniquity” is to treat evil as something worth protecting. Rather than rooting it out, confessing, and repenting, a person can hold it dear and refuse to be corrected. Such disregard for God’s law makes prayer an abomination to God (Proverbs 28:9). Isaiah 59:2 reveals that sin separates sinners from God. Despite how one tries to cover up evil thoughts and attitudes, God sees the heart.

Proverbs 28:13 offers both a warning and a promise. The warning is, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper.” The promise is, “But he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:9) so a sinning believer will confess his sin and receive forgiveness. First John 1:9 promises: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Verse 19. But truly God has listened;he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

God listened to the psalmist’s prayer and answered it (Psalm 66:13–15). He wants others to know about this. But the psalmist also strives for people to understand that personal sin will dampen this relationship (Psalm 66:18). When sin no longer lurks in the heart and the path is clear between the believer and God, answered prayer results. While God is not obligated, He does look favorably on those who have accepted Christ for salvation.

David provides an example of this truth. In Psalm 51 he describes the pain of broken fellowship with God. This happened because David committed adultery and arranged a murder (2 Samuel 12:7–11). He cries out to God for cleansing (Psalm 51:7), for forgiveness of sin (Psalm 51:9), and for a new, forgiven heart (Psalm 51:10). In Psalm 32 he expresses the joy of answered prayer. He describes the blessing of forgiveness (Psalm 32:1–2). He writes, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” No sin is too great for the Lord to forgive when the sinning believer sincerely confesses it and asks God for forgiveness.

Here, the psalmist’s prayers directed towards God aren’t clouded by a heart of sin and wickedness.

Verse 20. Blessed be God,because he has not rejected my prayeror removed his steadfast love from me!

This psalm concludes with this repeated celebration that God answered the writer’s prayer (Psalm 66:19). Though this psalm is not officially tied to David, it includes themes of his other writings. David experienced intense guilt and suffering for his sin regarding Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:7–11). When the Lord answered David’s prayer and forgave him (Psalm 51:1), he felt the sense of God’s forgiveness. David writes in Psalm 32:11, “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.” This psalmist, too, had reasons to be thankful for God’s mercy and forgiveness.

When a believer sins, God does not cast him aside. Instead, He convicts him of sin and disciplines him with the goal of restoring him to fellowship with Himself (Hebrews 12:6). Luke 15 records a story referred to as that of “the prodigal son;” the story may just as well be titled “the loving father.” When the wayward son regretted his wasted life, he decided to return home. Perhaps to his surprise, “while he was a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). The heavenly Father, like the prodigal’s father, loves every repentant believer, and eagerly forgives them.

End of Psalm 66

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