Overview:
(BKC)David may have written this psalm to be sung annually when the first grain of the year’s barley harvest was brought to the Lord and waved by the priest as a dedication offering (see Lev. 23:9–14 and comments there). It is a song of harvest blessing in celebration of God’s goodness to His people. In this “song” David declared that God, who hears prayers, atones for sin, a provision that results in God’s bounty. David also announced that God uses His supernatural power to aid His people. Based on these displays of God’s good pleasure, the songwriter anticipated God’s blessing on the land, which would bring the people prosperity.Structure:
(EBC)
A. In Praise of God’s Presence (vv. 1–3)
B. The Blessedness of God’s Presence (v. 4)
A′. In Praise of God’s Rule (vv. 5–8)
B′. The Blessedness of God’s Rule (vv. 9–13)
(1) Who God is v.1-3,5-8
"O God, in Zion v.1," "You hear prayers v.2," "You answer our prayers by performing awesome acts of deliverance," "O God, our savior v.5," "You created the mountains v.6," "You calm the raging seas and their roaring waves v.7" and "you cause those living in the east and west to praise you v.8"
David described who God is not only with generic knowledge, but with very very personal experience. He is not just the One who created the sea, but He is the One who calmed the raging seas and roaring waves. It was as if David was there when those things happened.
How will I describe God? He is the One Who helped me to get through the University admission? He is the One who led me to my husband? He is the One who answered prayer for our sister's senior apartment application. How will you describe God?
(2) The house analogy v.3b-4
v.3b but you forgive our acts of rebellion.
65:4 How blessed is the one whom you choose,
and allow you to live in your palace courts.
May we be satisfied with the good things of your house—
your holy palace
For anyone to get close to God, David knew it would be a satisfying experience. However, they needed to be allowed to live in God's house. In other words, their sins needed to be forgiven first . Am I longing for the closeness to God? May this be my motivation to get my sins forgiven.
(3) The request for God's blessing v.9-13
(EBC) the latter part of the psalm contains a prayer for God’s blessing. He interprets the Hebrew perfect in v. 9...as a precative: “Visit the earth.… Drench her furrows.… Crown.… may they jubilate and sing!” (vv. 9–13)
65:13 The meadows are clothed with sheep,
and the valleys are covered with grain.
They shout joyfully, yes, they sing.
God gave the rain to the field so that the crops grew. God also gave the pastures moist and the sheep were fed. The results were bountiful harvest from both the herds and the crops. People praised God for what was given to them.
What is the relationship between the first and the second part of the psalm?
In the Millennium, God will restore everything. That includes the physical blessings the earth will enjoy. However, before that Isarelites need to repent and be ready spiritually. If we are looking forward to the physical restoration we need to get ready spiritually.
Audrey
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