Psalm 65 is a beautiful Psalm that I look forward to reading and meditating on the
fifth day of every month!
From the title we know that this is another of David’s Psalms. It is called “a song”
and it was written to be sung or led by the Chief Musician as the people came
together to worship the LORD at the temple. It appears that it might have been
written to be used during or after the harvest (vv. 11-13).
In any case the Psalm may be said or sung, and is suitable for either. We have had
two such Psalms before, Psalms 30 and 48. This is the first of four psalms (Psalms
65-68) that focus on praising the Lord for His manifold blessings in nature and
for His gracious dealings with His people. He is the God of creation and the
God of the covenant. The psalm acknowledges our total dependence on the Lord to
provide both our spiritual and material needs. The phrase "crown the
year" (v. 11) suggests a harvest festival in October, the first month
of Israel's civil year.
David wrote the previous Psalms, Psalms 52-64, during and about the times that he was
either fleeing from King Saul, or he was dealing with the rebellion of his son
Absolom. They are Psalms where he is
pleading and calling out to God for protection and deliverance. It is fitting
that Psalm 65 follows them, as it is a special Psalm of praise and worship!
Perhaps verse 3 suggests the annual Day of Atonement that ushered in the Feast of
Tabernacles, a harvest festival (Lev. 17; 23:26-44). The early rains usually
began in late October, softening the hard soil and enabling the farmers to plow
the ground and sow their seed (vv. 9-13). Perhaps God had disciplined His
people by sending drought and famine (Lev. 26:3-6; Deut. 11:8-17) and allowing
other nations to threaten Israel (v. 7). This discipline brought them to repentance,
and they anticipated the promised rains and a blessed harvest from the Lord.
David's unusual experience involving the Gibeonites that we read about in 2 Samuel
21:1-14, might have been the occasion for writing this Psalm. Whatever the
historical setting, the psalm helps us to worship our great God and glorify Him
for who He is and what He does for us. The Psalm divides into three almost
equal divisions.
In verses 1-4, we see the grace of God, in providing atonement for our
transgressions (v. 3) and choosing us to approach Him to worship in the holy
sanctuary (v. 4). In verse 5-8, we see the government of God as He rules over
all the nations of the earth, and as He performs “awesome deeds in
righteousness” (v. 5). In verses 9-13, we see the goodness of God as He
provides rain for the crops and green pastures for the flocks!
In any case, this Psalm is also clearly prophetic in character. It anticipates the
day when Jesus shall reign, and the earth will at last enjoy the prodigal
bounty of the millennial age. This is indeed "a song for all
nations." Its ultimate setting is in the future rather than the past.
The first four verses speak of our approach to the LORD. Before we approach the
Lord, we must confess our sins and trust Him for forgiveness (v. 3), (1 John
1:9). The priests were chosen by God to serve in the sanctuary (Num. 16:5), but
God wanted all of His "chosen people" to live like priests (Ex.
19:3-8; Deut. 7:6-11; Ps. 33:12). Believers today are called “a holy
priesthood” (1 Peter 1:5), "a kingdom of priests"
(1 Peter 2:9-10; Rev. 1:5-6), chosen by the Lord, offering Him their praise and
worship.
What the Jewish worshipers had in their sanctuary, believers today have in Jesus
Christ, and we find our complete satisfaction in Him. We have all these
blessings only because of the grace of God, for He has “chosen us and
ordained us to bring forth fruit” (John 15:16).
God bless!
