Psalm 66

1. Psalm 66 is interesting in its “breakdown.” The entire psalm focuses on our worship of God, but it looks at worship from two different perspectives. Verses 1-12 deal with the entire nation (and even all people) worshipping. Then, verses 13-20 talk about how an individual worships.

2. Several psalms mention shouting to God (81, 95, 98, 100) and all of these begin with this thought. The idea is to shout–or chant–a cry of loyalty to God, as in First Samuel 10:24.

3. Verse 2 is a great verse to use when talking about singing. “Sing the glory of His name.” When we sing, we do a lot of things (teach, build up, etc.), but our focus should be on praising God. That is our first priority in every aspect of worship, including singing.

4. In verse 3, the writer says that God’s power is so great, even His enemies will obey in some capacity. The obedience may be contrived, or even deceptive, but it comes because people know Who God is, and what He can do.

5. For the next several verses (5-12), the writer says that everyone should praise God because He is powerful. The poet also takes the time to specifically mention certain miracles God has performed for the nation of Israel. He let the people pass over the Red Sea and Jordan River on dry ground (verse 6). The poet then continues the list, teaching each person to remember Who he/she is worshipping. God is worthy of the praise of all people!

6. Beginning with verse 13, the writer turns his attention to his own worship. While we worship together as a group, we must each give our best in worship. It starts with the individual. So, the poet says, “I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows” (verse 13).

7. In verse 15, the writer mentions that he will give a burnt offering of “fat beasts.” While this may be an overstatement, there is an emphasis here on offering the best. He was not just going to give an animal in sacrifice, he was going to bring the “fat” animal–exactly what God required in the Law of Moses.

8. Verse 16 is another example of a promise to tell others what God has done for the writer. It is no accident that this comes in the midst of a discussion about worship. When we truly worship God and realize Who He is, we will want to tell others about Him.

9. Verses 18 and 19 are a reminder that the writer is trying to do his best. He admits that, if he harbors sin, God will not hear his prayer. However, he does not harbor those sins, so God will hear him. In fact, God has “given heed to the voice of my prayer.”

10. The final verse is a perfect ending, praising God for what He has done. God listens to His worshippers, and is good to them.