25 June

Bible In 365 Days                                 

Psalm 66-69

Psalm 66

This is one of the most beautiful of the songs of worship. It is divided into two parts by a change from the use of the plural pronoun (Psalms 66: 1-12) to the use of the singular (Psalms 66: 13-20).

In the first part all the earth is called on to worship God because of what He has done for His people. This is a recognition of the true function of the people of God, which is to reveal God to the outside nations in such a way as to constrain them to worship. In the second half the worship becomes individual and personal, and yet the same purpose is manifest in the appeal to others to hear. In this case those called on to hear are such as fear God. Thus the testimony of the individual is to strengthen the faith of God's own, in order that they may be more perfectly equipped for their testimony to those without.

In the story of God's dealing with His people there is a recognition of His government through all the differing experiences of their history. By deliverance and by distress, by triumph and trial, He has conducted them to a wealthy place. Very full of comfort is the individual realization, following as it does this larger experience. In the economy of God the lonely man is not lost in the multitude, and the solo of his praise is as precious as is the chorus of the multitude's worship.

Psalm 67

In this psalm there is a fine merging of prayer and praise. Prayer is its dominant note. Moreover, it is prayer on the highest level. It asks for personal blessing, but its deepest passion is that all peoples may be blessed and led to praise. If it was a harvest festival song, as the first part of Psalms 67: 6 would seem to indicate, then the local occasion is graciously submerged in a far wider outlook. The singer, even more remarkably than in the preceding psalm, recognizes the true function of the Holy Nation.

The word "that," with which Psalms 67: 2 opens, is of the utmost importance: that God's way may be known upon earth, His saving health among all nations, is the ultimate purpose of His heart, and the mission of His people. In order to accomplish this the singer prays for blessing on and through them-on them, "God be merciful unto us, and bless us"; through them, "Cause His face to shine with us."

The central desire of the prayer is uttered at its center (Psalms 67: 3-5); and the method is again indicated at its close (Psalms 67:6-7). This is not asking in order to consume gifts on personal lusts. It is rather a passion which is self- emptied, and therefore pure. Such praying hastens the Kingdom.

Psalm 68

This psalm sings the praise of the God of deliverances. It opens with a song of pure praise (Psalms 68: 1-6). This is then justified by a review of God's past dealings with His people (Psalms 68: 7-18). Finally, it affirms the present activity of God, and declares confidence in His future succor (Psalms 68: 19-35).

In the first six verses there is a wonderful description of God in His majesty and meekness, in His might and mercy. The contrasts are remarkable. He scatters His enemies. He is a Father of the fatherless. The wicked perish at His presence. He sets the solitary in families. There is no sense of contradiction. Rather the unity of the apparently dissimilar things is felt at once. His righteousness of the strength of His mercy. His might is the ability of His help. The righteous need have no fear of His strength, but rather rejoice in it, trust in it, and co- operate with it by casting up a highway for Him.

The next section of the psalm (Psalms 68: 7-18) is a description of God's dealing with His people Israel. The might of His going forth is referred to, and the effect it produced is described. The giving of the constitution and law at Sinai is remembered. Then His preparation of the land for His people and their settlement therein is spoken of, together with the song of the women who thus have found their homes. And still the song moves on to describe how God scattered kings before His people, and moved right onward until in majesty He had entered and possessed the hill of His city, the center of His earthly government. It is a fine setting of history in its relation to the activity of God. It is this view of God enthroned and governing which gives courage to the heart and inspires the songs of victory.

Yet the song does not wholly depend on past history for its strength. The last section (Psalms 68: 19-35) deals with the present activity of God. He is a present God, and in the days of the singer gives evidence of His power and pity.

Blessed be the Lord who daily beareth our burden, Even the God who is our salvation. Selah. God is unto us a God of deliverances.

The appeal of the song to the people of God in all ages in their hours of difficulty is easily understood. It expresses the one and only consciousness which is equal to making a day of darkness and difficulty the occasion of exultation and song.

Psalm 69

Perhaps in no psalm in the whole psalter is the sense of sorrow profounder or more intense than in this. The soul of the singer pours itself out in unrestrained abandonment to the overwhelming and terrible grief which consumes it.

The first half is occupied wholly with a statement of the terrible consciousness. There is first a cry of distress, piercing and passionate (Psalms 69: 1-6). The circumstances described are of helpless whelming in waters and mire. Yet the chief agony is that God seems to be neglectful of the cry, and a fear fills the heart lest others should be harmed through what they see of the hopelessness and helplessness of his suffering.

In the next movement the singer declares that this suffering has come in the path of loyalty to God (Psalms 69: 7-12).

Following this declaration, the cry for succor is repeated with new emphasis and passion (Psalms 69: 13-18). This part of the psalm reveals the condition into which the men of faith sometimes are brought. Yet it contains suggestion of a sorrow profounder than any save One had experienced. Nothing can be conceived more overwhelming than the strange and inexplicable suffering resulting from loyalty to God and zeal for His honor. Undeserved reproach is the most stupendous grief possible to the sensitive soul. Yet even throughout this whole movement, expressive of such intense grief, there is an undertone of confidence in God.

In the presence of that God whose loving-kindness the singer has declared to be good he continues to pour out his complaint. Suddenly the song becomes a passionate cry for vengeance. It is a false view of things which criticises this cry as being unworthy of a man familiar with God. It is really the expression of a righteous desire for judgment against essential wrong. The method which he has described as being used by his adversaries violated the essential and fundamental order of the divine Kingdom. For the sake of that order, and the vindication of God, there must be a place for retribution and vengeance. The passion passes, and a prayer follows which merges into praise, and culminates in a great affirmation of confidence in God.