Psalm 65

by Henry Dyer | Category: General | Mar 1953

We learn from the introductory words in the heading of this Psalm that it is a song of David, and that it was for the chief musician. It is of interest to recall, that prior to David's time there was no service of praise in God's dwelling place and consequently no need for a chief musician. Through David's exercise of heart, and that of Gad and Nathan, a service of song was added to that which was instituted in the time of Moses in God's house.

The opening words of the Psalm,

"Praise waiteth for Thee, 0 God, in Zion;

And unto Thee shall the vow be performed",

indicate the prominence that should be given to devotional exercises before God, and they also emphasize what is of fundamental importance, that He should receive His portion first, if there is to be any measure of blessing for us. There seems to be an indication of silent waiting on God before the service of praise began, according to the margin of the R.V.-" There shall be silence before Thee, and praise O God," or, as Newberry renders it, "Praise silently waiteth for Thee, O God in Zion."

In the day when David, according to the purpose of his heart, brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obed Edom to the place he had prepared for it within curtains, in the city of David, he instituted a service of praise in God's dwelling place. He set the singers in their courses, with instruments of music, and the service of praise went on day and night continually. As one course finished, another was in readiness. It is delightful to think of these men, silently waiting on God, and their own appointed time, in an attitude of readiness and expectancy, to take up the sweet strains of praise to Jehovah their God where others had left off.

Might we pertinently ask, Is it so with us who are in God's house to-day? When we come before God on a Lord's day morning, are we ready and waiting to give Him His portion at the appointed time? Is it not sometimes the case that instead of praise waiting on God, it is God who has to wait on us?

"And unto Thee shall the vow be performed," would indicate the deep exercise of heart of those men with regard to giving unto God that which would be acceptable unto Him. It was appropriate at such a time that grateful recollections of the goodness and mercy of Jehovah their God should be prominently before their minds, and might find expression in words such as these,

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD, Yea, in the presence of all His people"(Psalm 116. 12-14).

Apart from the vow of the Nazirite, there was a wide field, within the compass of the will of God for His people, according to Leviticus 27., for the godly man or woman in Israel to take upon them special vows in their giving unto the LORD.

Verse 2, "0 Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come," would indicate also the prominent place that prayer had in the spiritual exercise in connexion with God's house in the past. It was God's desire that His house should be a house of prayer for all peoples, even for the strangers that join themselves to the LORD to minister unto Him, "Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer" (Isaiah 56.7).

This should also be characteristic of God's spiritual house to-day; it should be a house of prayer. We are reminded of Paul's words to Timothy, "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;... this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2.1-4).

While it is good that our hearts should be uplifted by the matters we have been considering, verse 8 should have a chastening effect upon us, reminding us of our own unworthiness, and of matters that make such spiritual joys impossible of realization were it not for the rich provision of God's grace and mercy. "Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away." As we view ourselves in the light of God's presence, we are caused to realize our own unworthiness.

Isaiah's reaction to his vision of the glory of the Lord, when he saw the Lord high and lifted up and His train filling the temple, found fitting expression in the words, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6.5). Truly our iniquities would prevail against us and put us to silence before God, where it not for the altar, the place of sacrifice.

How precious and assuring are the words which follow! "As for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away." "Purge" here means "to cover over," "to cover atoningly," so that under the covering of the blood of atonement the worshipper drew near in confidence and with acceptance before God.

God's purposes in the past had a focal point, even Jerusalem, and from that locality His word and law radiated outward, first to His own people and also to the surrounding nations. It was the place of His choice in which His purposes centered. He "chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which He loved. And He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which He hath established for ever" (Psalm 78.68, 69).

Not only did God choose a place; He also chose men to minister unto Him and to serve Him in the place that He had chosen. And among the men whom He chose, David has an honoured place. "He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

"from following the ewes that give suck He brought him, to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance " (verses 70, 71).

The words which follow would show that David fully appreciated the favour thus conferred upon him, and the place of blessing and service into which he had been brought. While the privileges of priestly service did not pertain to him, his desires and aspirations were fully satisfied in the courts of the LORD, and in bringing to the altar that which was acceptable to Him.

In the verses which follow (5 to 8) the writer widens the scope of his survey as he envisages God's house in relation to His wider purposes among the nations of the earth, even as it will also be in millennial days, according to Psalm 68. There we read, "Because of Thy temple at Jerusalem kings shall bring presents unto Thee. Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God. Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; 0 sing praises unto the Lord."

We cannot doubt that this principle operates at the present time and that the house of God has a definite relationship towards men and nations to-day. While it is delightful to view God's house as being a house of prayer, it is a solemn and sobering consideration as to how our prayers may be answered.

David's words provide much food for thought: "By terrible things Thou wilt answer us in righteousness, 0 God of our salvation."

The extension of the kingdom of God in this and other lands has been exercising the hearts of God's people for many years, and has been a subject of much prayer.

"Hispurposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower."

In agreement with His purposes He also" stilleth the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples." There are forces of nature, of wind and waves, that would cause universal destruction of life and property were they not restrained by Him who rules in earth and heaven. "God sits as Sovereign on the throne and ruleth all things well," for "He is the Saviour (or Preserver) of all men, specially of them that believe." There are passions and hatreds between nations that would assume terrifying proportions, were they not held in check by Him who gave the sea its decree and said, "Here shall thy proud waves be stayed."

The first part of the Psalm deals with Zion where God dwelt and ruled in the midst of His people. The second part deals with His Rule and providential purposes towards the nations, and the last section, verses 9 to 13, deals with the material universe, which is also subject to His rule, and responds to the measure of blessing which God bestows upon it." Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it, Thou greatly enrichest it."

We find ourselves moving here in a great circle of truth, beginning with a condition of spiritual prosperity among God's people, working outward in His moral governmental dealings with the nations, and having its repercussion in a condition of material prosperity that would return to the Giver in the offerings of His people.

"What God's almighty power hath made

His gracious mercy keepeth;

By morning glow or evening shade

His watchful eye ne'er sleepeth.

Within the kingdom of His might

Lo, all is just, and all is right,

To God all praise and glory."

Let us pray more earnestly that God, even in these last days of the dispensation, may visit the earth and water it. "The furrows" and "the ridges" bespeak intensive effort and labour on man's part before God can water them with a view to blessing and fruitfulness, which will redound to His praise and glory.

Henry Dyer | Mar 1953
General