Psalm 65

This song celebrates God's blessing His people with a bountiful land. David explained that God hears prayer and atones for sin. This results in bounty for His people. God also helps them by His supernatural power.

 1. God's forgiveness 65:1-4

65:1-2 David began this song by declaring that people will pray to the Lord because He hears their prayers. They will be silent before Him out of respect. Sometimes the height of worship is to fall silent before God. They will praise Him publicly and will fulfill their promised vows because He responds to His people's petitions.

65:3-4 A great national sin seems to have been the psalmist's concern, and he was grateful for the Lord's forgiveness (cf. Rom. 5:1). Those whom God forgives can approach Him and experience His blessing even in His earthly habitation (cf. Rom. 5:2; 2 Cor. 9:8). The Hebrew word hekal(temple) is a synonym for tabernacle. It means a magnificent house and does not describe Solomon's temple necessarily (cf. 5:7).

 2. God's power 65:5-8

These verses express God's great power by citing a number of specific divine acts (vv. 5b-8). People from all over the world trust in Him because of His revelation in creation and in history (vv. 5b, 8a). David regarded answers to prayer as some of God's awesome works (v. 5a).

 3. God's bounty 65:9-13

65:9a Not only does God hear prayer, He also sends bountiful harvests.

65:9b-10 These descriptions view God tending the earth as a farmer would. However, God is the One responsible for the abundance of crops (cf. 1 Cor. 3:6).

65:11-13 David pictured the earth rich with God's blessing on fields and flocks and rejoicing in His goodness.

In spite of man's sin, God blesses his environment with many good things so that he can prosper and rejoice. God delights to bless people. He is a good as well as a great God.