9 Thou hast inspected the earth, and waterest it, Thou makest it very rich, the rivulet of God `is' full of water, Thou preparest their corn, When thus Thou dost prepare it,
Watering hills from His upper chambers, From the fruit of Thy works is the earth satisfied. Causing grass to spring up for cattle, And herb for the service of man, To bring forth bread from the earth, And wine -- it rejoiceth the heart of man, To cause the face to shine from oil, And bread -- the heart of man it supporteth.
A shower of free-will gifts thou shakest out, O God. Thine inheritance, when it hath been weary, Thou hast established it. Thy company have dwelt in it, Thou preparest in Thy goodness for the poor, O God.
Those rich in the present age charge thou not to be high-minded, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who is giving to us all things richly for enjoyment; -- to do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to impart, willing to communicate,
And ye sons of Zion, joy and rejoice, In Jehovah your God, For He hath given to you the Teacher for righteousness, And causeth to come down to you a shower, Sprinkling and gathered -- in the beginning. And full have been the floors `with' pure corn, And overflown have the presses `with' new wine and oil. And I have recompensed to you the years That consume did the locust, the cankerworm, And the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, My great force that I did send against you. And ye have eaten, eating and being satisfied, And have praised the name of Jehovah your God, Who hath dealt with you wonderfully, And not ashamed are My people to the age.
Who is covering the heavens with clouds, Who is preparing for the earth rain, Who is causing grass to spring up `on' mountains, Giving to the beast its food, To the young of the ravens that call.
For to snow He saith, `Be `on' the earth.' And the small rain and great rain of His power. Into the hand of every man he sealeth, For the knowledge by all men of His work. And enter doth the beast into covert, And in its habitations it doth continue. From the inner chamber cometh a hurricane, And from scatterings winds -- cold, From the breath of God is frost given, And the breadth of waters is straitened, Yea, by filling He doth press out a cloud, Scatter a cloud doth His light. And it is turning itself round by His counsels, For their doing all He commandeth them, On the face of the habitable earth. Whether for a rod, or for His land, Or for kindness -- He doth cause it to come.
Who is giving rain on the face of the land, And is sending waters on the out-places. To set the low on a high place, And the mourners have been high `in' safety.
but the land whither ye are passing over to possess it, `is' a land of hills and valleys; of the rain of the heavens it drinketh water; a land which Jehovah thy God is searching; continually `are' the eyes of Jehovah thy God upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the latter end of the year.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 65
Commentary on Psalms 65 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 65
Ps 65:1-13. This is a song of praise for God's spiritual blessings to His people and His kind providence over all the earth.
1. Praise waiteth for thee—literally, "To Thee silence praise," or (compare Ps 62:1), To Thee silence is praise—that is, Praise is waiting as a servant; it is due to Thee. So the last clause expresses the duty of paying vows. These two parts of acceptable worship, mentioned in Ps 50:14, are rendered in Zion, where God chiefly displays His mercy and receives homage.
2. All are encouraged to pray by God's readiness to hear.
3. God's mercy alone delivers us from the burden of iniquities, by purging or expiating by an atonement the transgressions with which we are charged, and which are denoted by—
Iniquities—or, literally, "Words of iniquities."
4. dwell in thy courts; … [and] satisfied with the goodness … temple—denote communion with God (Ps 15:1; 23:6; compare Ps 5:7). This is a blessing for all God's people, as denoted by the change of number.
5. terrible things—that is, by the manifestation of justice and wrath to enemies, accompanying that of mercy to His people (Ps 63:9-11; 64:7-9).
the confidence—object of it.
of all … earth—the whole world; that is, deservedly such, whether men think so or not.
6-13. God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Ps 26:7; 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.
8. outgoings of … rejoice—all people from east to west.
9. visitest—in mercy (compare Ps 8:4).
river of God—His exhaustless resources.
11. thy paths—ways of providence (Ps 25:4, 10).
12. wilderness—places, though not inhabited by men, fit for pasture (Le 16:21, 22; Job 24:5).
pastures—is literally, "folds," or "enclosures for flocks"; and in Ps 65:13 it may be "lambs," the same word used and so translated in Ps 37:20; so that "the flocks are clothed with lambs" (a figure for abundant increase) would be the form of expression.