The Treasury of David

Posted on September 30, 2022 by brucesbiblepage

Psalm 66

Exposition
Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings
Hints to the Village Preacher
Other Works

TITLE.To the Chief Musician. He had need be a man of great skill, worthily to sing such a Psalm as this: the best music in the world would be honored by marriage with such expressions. A Song or Psalm, or a Song and Psalm. It may be either said or sung; it is a marvelous poem if it be but read; but set to suitable music, it must have been one of the noblest strains ever heard by the Jewish people. We do not know who is its author, but we see no reason to doubt that David wrote it. It is in the Davidic style and has nothing in it unsuited to his times. It is true the “house” of God is mentioned, but the tabernacle was entitled to that designation as well as the temple.

SUBJECT AND DIVISION. Praise is the topic, and the subjects for the song are the Lord’s great works, his gracious benefits, his faithful deliverances, and all his dealings with his people, brought to a close by a personal testimony to special kindness received by the prophet bard himself. Ps 66:1-4 are a kind of introductory hymn, calling upon all nations to praise God, and dictating to them the words of a suitable song. Ps 66:5-7 invite the beholder to “Come and see” the works of the Lord, pointing attention to the Red Sea, and perhaps the passage of Jordan. This suggests the similar position of the afflicted people which is described, and its joyful issue predicted Ps 66:8-12. The singer then becomes personal, and confesses his own obligations to the Lord (Ps 66:13-15); and, bursting forth with a vehement “Come and hear, “declares with thanksgiving the special favor of the Lord to himself, Ps 66:16-20.

Verse 6. He turned the sea into dry land. It was no slight miracle to divide a pathway through such a sea and to make it fit for the traffic of a whole nation. He who did this can do anything and must be God, the worthy object of adoration. The Christian’s inference is that no obstacle in his journey heavenward needs to hinder him, for the sea could not hinder Israel, and even death itself shall be as life; the sea shall be dry land when God’s presence is felt. They went through the flood on foot. Through the river the tribes passed dry-shod, Jordan was afraid because of them.

“What ailed thee, O thou mighty sea?
Why rolled thy waves in dread?
What bade thy tide, O Jordan, flee
And bare its deepest bed?”

“O earth, before the Lord, the God
Of Jacob, tremble still;
Who makes the waste a watered sod,
The flint a gushing rill.”

There we rejoice in him. We participate this day in that ancient joy. The scene is so vividly before us that it seems as if we were there personally, singing unto the Lord because he hath triumphed gloriously. Faith casts herself bodily into the past joys of the saints and realizes them for herself in much the same fashion in which she projects herself into the bliss of the future, and becomes the substance of things hoped for. It is to be remarked that Israel’s joy was in her God, and there let ours be. It is not so much what he has done, as what he is, that should excite in us sacred rejoicing. “He is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

Singing Psalms 66

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