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David

Psalm 65

To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David.

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Scripture (KJV)

1Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.

2O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

3Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

4Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

5By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

6Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:

7Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.

8They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

10Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.

13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Summary

Psalm 65 is a harvest thanksgiving psalm that moves from praise for forgiveness to awe at God’s power in creation and providence. David declares that praise waits for God in Zion and that all flesh will come to the God who hears prayer. He confesses that iniquities prevail against him, yet God purges them away, and the one God chooses to approach Him is blessed and satisfied with the goodness of His house. God is the confidence of all the ends of the earth, who sets fast the mountains, stills the noise of the seas, and makes the outgoings of morning and evening rejoice. The psalm closes with a lush picture of God visiting and watering the earth, crowning the year with goodness, and making the pastures, hills, and valleys shout and sing for joy.

The major themes are praise, forgiveness, God’s power, providence, and harvest. Practically, the psalm teaches that the God who forgives sin is also the God who waters the earth and crowns the year with goodness. The great lesson is that praise waits for God, and all flesh shall come to Him who hears prayer.

Key Themes

A Prayer from Psalm 65

O God who hears prayer, praise waits for You in Zion. Iniquities prevail against me, but You purge them away. Blessed is the one You choose and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. Satisfy me with the goodness of Your house. You are the confidence of all the ends of the earth; You set fast the mountains and still the noise of the seas. You visit the earth and water it; You crown the year with Your goodness. Let the pastures, hills, and valleys shout for joy and sing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions

  1. 1How does the psalm move from forgiveness to the harvest?
  2. 2What does it mean that praise "waiteth" for God in Zion?
  3. 3How do I see God crowning the year with goodness in my life?
  4. 4Where do I need to trust the God who stills the noise of the seas?

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