Psalm 66

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“Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing of his glorious name (v.1)!” The psalmist enjoins everyone of all cultures and nations to worship God, the Lord of creation. Many today would question why they should worship God/ Allah/ Yahweh. They feel either self sufficient or they perceive the psalmist’s God as outdated and not really worthy of worship. Within this psalm the ever relevant answers to these questions may be found by those with a humble attitude.

In v.16-20 the psalmist expresses his personal experience that God is merciful with those who confess their failings and shortcomings: he concludes, “Blessed is God who didn’t turn away when I was praying, and didn’t refuse me his kindness and love.” His conviction was that he did not deserve such kindness and love, but nevertheless he found that God was willing to build relationship with him.

He points out that our lives are not merely in God’s hands but that God’s Spirit is active in helping us to pursue a good path through life and leading us to find the disciplines we need. However it is only those whose ‘spiritual’ eyes are open who can recognise this hidden hand of God! It is also the case that the same humble people will recognise the more open deeds of God’s revelation, and they will acknowledge those deeds for what they are. The psalmist declares, “How awe-inspiring are your deeds, O God (v.3)!” These deeds are what I call ‘redemptive deeds’, such as God’s gift of divine love given for all humanity through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, and God’s invitation thereby for us to come into relationship with him.