DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 66 the Psalmist invites his readers to thank and praise God for his deliverances past and present. The author and occasion are unknown. The Psalm presents God in his power as one who has conquered the nations and who will conquer again, causing them to submit to him, to worship him, and to sing to him. A small parallel to this is contained in the painting above in which a powerless invalid comes before the conqueror Napoleon and presents a petition, wholly dependant on his mercy to have it granted.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: COMMUNAL PSALMS OF THANKSGIVING: Psalm 65. Psalm 66. Psalm 67. Psalm 75. Psalm 107. Psalm 118. Psalm 124. Psalm 129. Psalm 136. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 66 - #1. Psalm 66 - #2. Psalm 66 - #3. Psalm 66 - #4. Psalm 66 - #5. ]

     The Psalmist invites all nations to make a joyful noise (a shout, or a piercing cry) to God. He urges them to sing of his honor and his glory and to tell God how terrifying or awe-inspiring his works are. And the Psalmist notes that it is through the greatness of God's power that his enemies shall submit to him; and, indeed, all the earth will worship God and sing to him (1-4). The Psalmist then invites his readers to come and see the awe-inspiring works of God which he does toward the children of men. God opened and dried up the Red sea and took his people across to the other side; and they rejoiced in him. He rules the nations by his power. Therefore the Psalmist asks God to prevent the rebellious nations from exalting themselves (5-7). The Psalmist then offers another invitation to the people to praise God for keeping our souls alive, and for keeping our foot from slipping so that we are not moved. God has proven and tried us like silver. He brought us into a net and laid affliction on us. He caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and water. But he brought us out into a "wealthy place" -- a place of overflowing abundance (8-12). Therefore, says the Psalmist, he will go to the house of God and pay his vows with sacrifices of fatlings, rams, bullocks (bulls), and goats (13-15). The Psalmist then invites all who fear God to listen while he tells them what God has done for his soul. He cried to God and exalted him. "If I regard iniquity in my heart," he says, "God will not hear me." But God did hear him. He listened (hearkened) to his prayer. Therefore, he blesses God who did not turn away his prayer and did not withdraw his mercy from him (16-20).

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
² Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
³ Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
⁴ All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

⁵ Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
⁶ He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
⁷ He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
⁸ O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
⁹ Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
¹⁰ For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
¹¹ Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
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.

¹³ I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
¹⁴ Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
¹⁵ I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.

¹⁶ Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
¹⁷ I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
¹⁸ If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
¹⁹ But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
²⁰ Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]