The power of praise!

Today’s reading is a collection of Psalms; Psalm 65 stood out to me as a Psalm encouraging praise unto the Lord. Oh, how praising the Lord can uplift the heart and soul from the negativity and problems of life! Of course, the object of our praise, God, is why! The Psalmist begins his Psalm by saying that praise is due unto God.

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. (Psalm 65:1, ESV)

 Why? Why should we praise God? Is there a reason? Yes! The Psalmist gives two reasons. First, God forgives our iniquity (Psalm 65:2–3). Guilt is a cruel taskmaster! The Psalmist said iniquity prevailed against him, yet he praises God for His atonement of the Psalmist’s sin and his deliverance from prevailing guilt. What can uplift the heart and soul? Forgiveness of sin and power over guilt.  Second, the Psalmist praises God because he had the opportunity to worship God corporately in the sanctuary. 

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! (Psalm 65:4, ESV)

In the corporate worship of God in the house of God, the Psalmist found his personal worship uplifting his heart and soul. Our praise will find strength alongside the praise of others! 

As the Psalmist praises God, Psalm 65:5–8 describes how his eyes are opened to God’s wondrous deeds, strength, and might. These verses indicate that the Psalmist is left in awe after what he saw of God as he worshipped God! What’s exciting about this vision is that our awesome God takes the time to answer our prayers after His righteousness. 

By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas; (Psalm 65:5, NKJV)

When the Psalmist sees God’s incredible power and might, he is moved by how tenderly He applies it to sustaining us and His creation (Psalm 65:9–11). He describes how God takes care of the earth, watering it, enriching it, and softening the ground with showers so that an abundance of grain might come forth. In Psalm 65:11, the Psalmist describes the culmination of God’s tenderness as a year crowned with overflowing abundance. He likens it to a wagon dropping grain over the sides as it is driven along. This means that wherever God goes and has been, His goodness has overflowed its container for those coming behind to enjoy it freely with great excitement!

What, then, are the results of God’s goodness? The Psalmist poetically describes it in Psalm 65:12–13 as all of creation, including us, overflowing with joy, praise, and song! The Psalmist sees God’s creation as being decorated with praise on account of God’s goodness. 

Believers, our paths are dripping with the dew drops of God’s goodness! Do we see it as the Psalmist saw it? Do we see it as all of creation sees it? The very sustainment of our lives, and yes, even all of creation, is due to the goodness of God. Therefore, praise is due to God!


Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Psalms 65-67; 69-70.


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