God Is to Be Praised for His Works, His Testing, and His Mercy

66:1 Shout out praise to God, all the earth! 66:2 Sing praises about the majesty of his reputation! Give him the honor he deserves! 66:3 Say to God: “How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power your enemies cower in fear before you. 66:4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you! They sing praises to your name!” (Selah) 66:5 Come and witness God’s exploits! His acts on behalf of people are awesome! 66:6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. Let us rejoice in him there! 66:7 He rules by his power forever; he watches the nations. Stubborn rebels should not exalt themselves. (Selah) 66:8 Praise our God, you nations! Loudly proclaim his praise! 66:9 He preserves our lives and does not allow our feet to slip. 66:10 For you, O God, tested us; you purified us like refined silver. 66:11 You led us into a trap; you caused us to suffer. 66:12 You allowed men to ride over our heads; we passed through fire and water, but you brought us out into a wide open place. 66:13 I will enter your temple with burnt sacrifices; I will fulfill the vows I made to you, 66:14 which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. 66:15 I will offer up to you fattened animals as burnt sacrifices, along with the smell of sacrificial rams. I will offer cattle and goats. (Selah) 66:16 Come! Listen, all you who are loyal to God! I will declare what he has done for me. 66:17 I cried out to him for help and praised him with my tongue. 66:18 If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 66:19 However, God heard; he listened to my prayer. 66:20 God deserves praise, for he did not reject my prayer or abandon his love for me! Psalm 67 For the music director; to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm, a song.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 66 calls all the earth to praise God for his mighty acts. It remembers how he saved his people, tested and purified them through trouble, and brought them out into a wide place. It ends with a testimony that God hears prayer and does not turn away his steadfast love.

This psalm begins with a call for the whole earth to praise God. His works are great, and his name is worthy of honor. The psalm tells the nations to look at what God has done. He turned the sea into dry land. He led his people through the river. These acts show his power and rule over all.

The psalm then speaks about trouble. God preserved his people, but he also tested them. He refined them like silver. He allowed hard things, even deep suffering, but he brought them out into a place of safety and relief. The point is not that suffering is pleasant. The point is that God can use hardship to purify his people and then deliver them.

The next section speaks of worship in the temple. The worshiper brings burnt offerings and fulfills vows made in distress. This shows thankful obedience after God has answered. Promises made in trouble should not be forgotten when deliverance comes.

The psalm ends with a personal testimony. The speaker invites the faithful to listen. He cried out to God, and God heard him. He also says that if he had cherished sin in his heart, the Lord would not have listened. God did hear because the prayer was sincere and not joined to loved sin. So the psalm closes with praise for God’s mercy and steadfast love.

• All the earth is called to praise God.
• God’s mighty works give reason for worship.
• God rules forever and watches the nations.
• He preserves life and keeps feet from slipping.
• God may test and refine his people through severe trouble.
• Suffering can be used by God for purification and later deliverance.
• Vows made to God in distress should be fulfilled with gratitude.
• Hidden, cherished sin hinders prayer.
• God hears the prayer of the repentant and faithful.
• God does not abandon his steadfast love.

• Praise God publicly and with honor.
• Remember and speak about what God has done.
• Do not exalt yourself against God.
• Trust that God can refine his people through testing.
• Fulfill vows made in distress.
• Do not harbor sin in your heart.
• Call on God in trouble and give thanks when he answers.

Psalm 66 stands in Israel’s covenant worship. It remembers God’s saving acts in history, especially deliverance through the sea and river. It also shows that God disciplines and restores his people. The call for the nations to praise him fits the wider biblical hope that all peoples will come to honor the Lord.

Believers should praise God for his works, not only for private feelings. They should trust him in trials, knowing he may use hardship to refine them. They should keep their promises to God and repent of hidden sin. When God answers prayer, they should testify and give him thanks.

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