Psalm Sixty Six

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

Navigate to Verse

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm.

A Song or Psalm. The superscript to this psalm (also Psalms 30, 48, 65, 67, and 68) calls it “A Song or Psalm,” presumably denoting it as appropriate for either reciting or singing. Whereas many of those preceding this series (i.e., Psalms 56-64) have been psalms of deep concern, often with notes of lamentation or even imprecation, the psalms in this category are songs emphasizing victory and praise.

Psalm 66:1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

Psalm 66:2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.

Psalm 66:3 Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

Psalm 66:4 All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah

Psalm 66:5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

Psalm 66:6 He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

rejoice in him. This special combination of chapter and verse (i.e., Psalm 66:6) brings to mind the prophetic number of the Antichrist, the “Beast” of the coming world humanist government (Revelation 13) in the last days (Revelation 13:18). But just as God miraculously turned the sea into dry land to save His people in the past trouble (Exodus 14:21), so He will cause the dry land to swallow up the “flood” sent after His people by the Satan-possessed Beast in the future “time of Jacob's trouble” (see note on Jeremiah 30:7; note on Revelation 12:15-16).

Psalm 66:7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

his eyes behold the nations. The assurance of this verse appropriately follows the preceding verse. Rebellious nations and their leaders—even the godless world ruler of the last days—shall never be able to defeat the eternal God. Selah!

Psalm 66:8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:

Psalm 66:9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.

Psalm 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Psalm 66:11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.

Psalm 66:12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

Psalm 66:13 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,

Psalm 66:14 Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.

Psalm 66:15 I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah

Psalm 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

Psalm 66:17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

regard iniquity. There are a number of reasons why our prayers may seem to go unanswered, and the presence of unconfessed and unforsaken sin in one's life is often the cause. At any event, this possibility must always be considered with all honesty before seeking another reason.

Psalm 66:19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

Psalm 66:20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.