Bible Commentaries
Psalms 65

Introduction

PSALM 65

:-. This is a song of praise for God's spiritual blessings to His people and His kind providence over all the earth.

Verse 1

1. Praise waiteth for thee—literally, "To Thee silence praise," or (compare Psalms 62:1), To Thee silence is praise—that is, Praise is waiting as a servant; it is due to Thee. So the last clause expresses the duty of paying vows. These two parts of acceptable worship, mentioned in Psalms 62:1- :, are rendered in Zion, where God chiefly displays His mercy and receives homage.

Verse 2

2. All are encouraged to pray by God's readiness to hear.

Verse 3

3. God's mercy alone delivers us from the burden of iniquities, by purging or expiating by an atonement the transgressions with which we are charged, and which are denoted by—

Iniquities—or, literally, "Words of iniquities."

Verse 4

4. dwell in thy courts; . . . [and] satisfied with the goodness . . . temple—denote communion with God (Psalms 15:1; Psalms 23:6; compare Psalms 23:6- :). This is a blessing for all God's people, as denoted by the change of number.

Verse 5

5. terrible things—that is, by the manifestation of justice and wrath to enemies, accompanying that of mercy to His people (Psalms 63:9-11; Psalms 64:7-9).

the confidence—object of it.

of all . . . earth—the whole world; that is, deservedly such, whether men think so or not.

Verse 6

6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psalms 26:7; Psalms 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.

Verse 8

8. outgoings of . . . rejoice—all people from east to west.

Verse 9

9. visitest—in mercy (compare Psalms 8:4).

river of God—His exhaustless resources.

Verse 10

6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psalms 26:7; Psalms 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.

Verse 11

11. thy paths—ways of providence (Psalms 25:4; Psalms 25:10).

Verse 12

12. wilderness—places, though not inhabited by men, fit for pasture (Leviticus 16:21; Leviticus 16:22; Job 24:5).

pastures—is literally, "folds," or "enclosures for flocks"; and in Job 24:5- : it may be "lambs," the same word used and so translated in Psalms 37:20; so that "the flocks are clothed with lambs" (a figure for abundant increase) would be the form of expression.

Verse 13

6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psalms 26:7; Psalms 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.