66:10-12Just as fire purifies silver in the smelting process, trials refine our character. They bring us a new and deeper wisdom, helping us discern truth from falsehood and giving us the discipline to do what we know is right. Above all, these trials help us reatize that life is a gift from God to be cherished, not a right to be taken for granted.
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 66
Psalm 66
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 910, 911
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
66Psalm 66
1For the choir director: A song. A psalm.Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!
2Sing about the glory of his name!Tell the world how glorious he is.
3Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
4Everything on earth will worship you;they will sing your praises,shouting your name in glorious songs.”
5Come and see what our God has done,what awesome miracles he performs for people!in the beauty of nature. Nature helps us understand something ofGod’s character. The Jews believed that God’s care of nature was asign of his love and provision for them. Nature shows God's gener-osity—giving us more than we need or deserve. God's abundantgenerosity should make us grateful to him and generous to others.66:5-7 The writer was remembering God’s rescue of the Israel-ites by parting the Red Sea during the Exodus. God saved theIsraelites then, and he continues to save his people today.
6He made a dry path through the Red Sea,*and his people went across on foot.There we rejoiced in him.
7For by his great power he rules forever.He watches every movement of the nations;let no rebel rise in defiance.
8Let the whole world bless our Godand loudly sing his praises.
9Our lives are in his hands,and he keeps our feet from stumbling.
10You have tested us, O God;you have purified us like silver.
11You captured us in your netand laid the burden of slavery on our backs.
12Then you put a leader over us.*We went through fire and flood,but you brought us to a place of great abundance.
13Now I come to your Temple with burnt offeringsto fulfill the vows I made to you—14 yes, the sacred vows that I madewhen I was in deep trouble.
15That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you—the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma,and a sacrifice of bulls and male goats.
16Come and listen, all you who fear God,and I will tell you what he did for me.
17For I cried out to him for help,praising him as I spoke.
18If [had not confessed the sin in my heart,the LORD would not have listened.
19But God did listen!He paid attention to my prayer.
20Praise God, who did not ignore my prayeror withdraw his unfailing love from me.Theme: Joy comes from spreading the news about God around the world.Author: Anonymous, possibly written for one of the harvest festivals
Life Application Notes 4 notes
66:12Or You made people ride over our heads.
66:13-15People sometimes make bargains with God, saying, “If you heal me [or get me out of this mess], I'll obey you for the rest of my life.” However, soon after they recover, the vow is forgotten and the old life-style is resumed. This writer made a promise to God, but he remembered the promise and was prepared to carry it out. God always keeps his promises and wants us to follow his example. Be careful to follow through on whatever you promise to do.
66:18Our confession of sin must be continual because we
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Study feature · page 911
Interlude
Study feature · page 911
Interlude
Study feature · page 911
Interlude
66:6 Hebrew the sea.
continue to do wrong. But true confession requires us to listen to God and to want to stop doing what is wrong. David confessed his sin and prayed, “Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins” (19:12, 13). When we refuse to repent or when we harbor and cherish certain sins, we place a wall between us and God. We may not be able to remember every sin we have ever committed, but our attitude should be one of confession and obedience.