Sunday, January 15, Lesson: Psalms 65:1-2, 9-13; Time of Action: About 1000 B.C.; Place of Action: Jerusalem

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1 Sunday, January 15, 2017 Lesson: Psalms 65:1-2, 9-13; Time of Action: About 1000 B.C.; Place of Action: Jerusalem Golden Text: Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. (Psalms 65:9). I. INTRODUCTION. When needs are met and life is going well, people sometimes can forget the source of their blessings. They can become complacent. They may start to believe that they are fully responsible for their blessings. This week s lesson reminds us of the Person truly responsible for all the good we enjoy. We will be reminded that God is our Provider. Through Him, our lives are sustained. Our God always keeps His promises. He is faithful to all generations. Whatever we have need of He will make available. Sometimes He makes us till the soil; at other times a ram will appear in the bush. Regardless of how we obtain what we need, God always provides.

2 II. LESSON BACKGROUND. This is a psalm of David, 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 our spiritual and material needs. This psalm builds its celebration of anticipated harvest on the Creator s care in saturating the parched ground with water and thus bringing plenty (see Psalms 65:9-13). Grain, showers, crops, overflowing carts, verdant grasslands, and meadows covered with grazing flocks are all Yahweh s continuing provision. But this is not simply a praise for a bountiful harvest. Praise for nature s bounty comes after worship for God s gracious atoning for man s overwhelming transgressions, and His saving deeds which are apparent to persons near and far (see Psalms 65:4-8). III. GOD GRACIOUSLY HEARS (Psalms 65:1-2) A. The people praise and pray (Psalms 65:1-2). 1. (vs. 1). In our first verse the psalmist says Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee

3 shall the vow be performed. The opening phrase Praise waiteth for thee, O God is literally To you praise is silence, which doesn t convey very much. The Hebrew word for waiteth literally reads as silence. The Amplified Bible (AMP) translation combines both praise and silence: It reads To You belongs silence (the submissive wonder of reverence), and (it bursts into) praise in Zion, O God. The Hebrew word for silence is very similar to the word for fitting or proper. Therefore, some translate this opening phrase as Praise is fitting for you, that is, It is fitting that your people praise you. We usually think of praise in the form of songs and verbal testimony to God s greatness, but silence is also a part of worship, and we must learn to wait quietly before the Lord (see Psalms 62:1). Sometimes, quiet contemplation of God s blessings in gratitude for them is an appropriate form of praise. The psalmist also stated that this reverential silence that would burst into praise would be done in Sion or Zion which is the name often given to Jerusalem, but it originally referred to the hill on which the temple was later built. Whether we worship God in song or silence, we are to praise Him from the heart. The last part of this verse says and unto thee shall the vow be performed. Worship can also include the performing or keeping of vows. Although there isn t much emphasis placed on vows in the New Testament, they played an important part in Israel s worship. A vow in both the Old Testament and the New Testament was always a promise or pledge made to God, never to other persons. Note: Vowing was voluntary, but after it was made it had to be performed (see Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Ecclesiastes 5:4-6). Therefore vows were to be made

4 only after careful consideration (see Proverbs 20:25) and in keeping with what pleased God (see Leviticus 27:9-27). A limitation was placed on women who wished to make a vow (see Numbers 30:3-9). However, they could be overruled by a husband or father who during that time, were legally responsible for wives and children. For the Jew, vowing could be a part of everyday devotion (see Psalms 61:8), or during the annual festivals (see I Samuel 1:21). Vowing is joyful worship in faith and love (see Psalms 61:4-5, 8), and often associated with the proclamation of God s salvation (see Psalms 22:22-27; 66:13-20). For this reason, deception in vowing is an affront to God and brings His curse (see Malachi 1:14). God s people will keep the vows that they make to Him. It s important to realize that a vow is much stronger than a promise. For instance, at a wedding ceremony the bride and groom make vows to each other. They are entering into a covenant agreement that binds them together and that should be broken only by death. We have a covenant with the Lord. When we enter into an agreement with Him, He expects us to keep our commitments just as He is faithful to keep His. 2. (vs. 2). Still talking to God, the psalmist went on to say O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Here the psalmist emphasizes the character of God as the One who hears our prayers. This does not mean that we always get what we want when we pray. And that may be a very good thing because we don t always know what is best for us, for others, or for God s glory. Our prayer

5 should always be what is in God s will (see I John 5:14). However, just knowing that God hears our prayers, whether the answer is yes, no, or wait, is reason enough for us to give Him constant praise. The phrase unto thee shall all flesh come emphasizes that Jehovah is the only God who answers prayer and can meet our needs. As a result, everyone should come to Him. The truth is, one day when the Lord Jesus reigns on earth, all flesh or every human being will come to Him. Israel has no sanctuary today, but one day the temple will be rebuilt (see Ezekiel chapters 40-48; Daniel 9:20-27), and the Gentile nations will come and worship the true and living God (see Isaiah 2:1-3; 56:6-7; Micah 4:1-5). IV. GOD GRACIOUSLY PROVIDES (Psalms 65:9-13). Verses 3-8 are not part of our printed text, but those verses offer additional reasons to praise God. In summary, verses 3-8 speak of a satisfied people, and describe the mighty God of creation as the God of salvation who satisfies His people. He chooses them to approach Him in praise. Accordingly, they acknowledge His awesome deeds and salvation and praise Him. Our text continues with verse 9. A. God provides for the earth (Psalms 65:9-10). 1. (vs. 9). In this verse, the psalmist continued to

6 say to the Lord Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. David here recognizes God and gives Him praise for taking care of the earth. The word visitest has the idea of God s care and intervention in the circumstances of our lives whether for better or worse. His visitation upon mankind can be for the worse when referring to God s pouring out judgment, but here visitest refers to God s actions to bring blessings to the earth or the land (see Genesis 50:24; Ruth 1:6). In this verse, the particular blessing is that God visitest the earth, and waterest it. In other words, if the land is dry, God waters it. Still referring to the earth, David added that God greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water. The word enricheth means that the water God provides makes the land fertile. The river of God was David s poetic way of referring to the rain which is full of water that comes from God to make the land fertile and rich. The rain in season gives the earth a new face; very little is more reviving, more refreshing, than the rain upon freshly mown grass (see Psalms 72:6). The psalmist continued to acknowledge that God preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. The word them here refers to people in general. Corn is a general term for all types of grain. The psalmist was saying that God prepares the earth for his people and sends them rich harvests of grain through the rain that He hast so provided for it (the grain). 2. (vs. 10). Still speaking of God s provision for the earth, David said in this verse Thou waterest the

7 ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. Here, the psalmist gives precise details of how God prepares the earth for growing crops. The ridges refer to the grooves made by plowing the land. These are seen as being watered abundantly by the rain, which also settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers. In other words, as the rain penetrates the plowed fields, it loosens up the soil causing it to be softened and settled down. The phrase thou blessest the springing thereof refers to the crops that spring forth. The way God has designed grains to reproduce many times over the amount needed for reproduction so that there is a great surplus for our consumption is a reality for which we should praise Him. In essence, David was saying that God uses the rain to prepare the land to produce for mankind. If it is uneven, God levels it. If the land is too hard to germinate seeds, God softens it. For this God s people could and should praise Him. Note: We should be reminded that the blessing of abundant water for the land assumes that Israel was obedient to the Lord and His covenant. As long as the nation obeyed God, He would provide many blessings including abundant rainfall (see Leviticus 26:3-5; Deuteronomy 11:8-15; 28:1-2, 12). However, the opposite would occur if the people failed to obey God s commandments. The land and the people would be cursed and the rains would cease (see Leviticus 26:14-15, 16, 19, 32-35; Deuteronomy 11:16-17; 28:15, 23-24). Therefore, there are two things we need to keep in mind. First, all the blessings we enjoy come from the gracious hand of God, and for

8 them He deserves our gratitude and praise. Second, the Old Testament spiritual principle still remains for both individuals and nations: obedience to God brings His blessings (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14) and disobedience to Him brings only trouble (see Deuteronomy 28:15-48). B. God provides for the year (Psalms 65:11-12). 1. (vs. 11). In this verse the psalmist said Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. The word crowneth means to surround or to encompass. The phrase crownest the year with thy (God s) goodness speaks of an earnest blessing upon the whole year. God is therefore said to crown or surround Israel s entire year of harvest with his goodness just as one s head is surrounded with a crown. In addition, the psalmist declared that God s paths drop fatness. The word fatness is often used in Scripture to refer to prosperity and God s blessing (see Psalms 92:14; Proverbs 11:25; 13:4; 28:25). The reference to God s paths is a poetic way of describing God moving through the land. As He does, everywhere He goes there is fatness or prosperity. 2. (vs. 12). Still speaking of the mighty works of God that call for our praise, the psalmist said in this verse They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The word They

9 refers back to the fatness or prosperity God provides in the previous verse. God drips His blessings upon the pastures of the wilderness. Normally the pastures of the wilderness are barren and uncultivated lands with little or no vegetation due to the lack of rain. But God s blessing covers these barren and uncultivated areas, causing them to be so fertile that it can be said that they drip with fatness or prosperity. The last phrase of this verse says and the little hills rejoice on every side. The psalmist uses the poetic device of personification here to describe the little hills as if they were people who rejoice on every side. God s blessing on the land is so wonderful and complete that the psalmist sees the little hills as being filled with rejoicing. C. God provides for His people (Psalms 65:13). In the final verse of this psalms David declares that The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing. The emphasis in this verse is placed on the benefits that God s people enjoy. The psalmist first says that The pastures are clothed with flocks. The flocks of sheep and goats are so abundant and so thick that the pastures look like clothing. In ancient Israel, sheep and goats were especially important as sources of milk, meat, and wool clothing. These animals were also used as sacrifices in Israel s system of worship. Looking out over the pastures and seeing large, prosperous flocks of sheep and goats was a wonderful sight that gave evidence of God s gracious provision for His people. In addition, David said that the

10 valleys also are covered over with corn. Again, this is another sign of fertility and prosperity. As already noted, the word corn refers to any kind of grain including barley and wheat which provided food for both animals and people. When the Israelites looked at the fertile valleys and how they produced great harvests, they were assured that the Lord had provided the food that they needed. Just as the psalmist poetically stated that the hills rejoiced over God s blessing, here he declared that the pastures and the valleys also shout for joy, they also sing. The scene that the psalmist paints is one showing the pastures and the valleys shouting for joy as they also sing in praise of the God who had blessed them by making them fertile. V. Conclusion. We Christians enjoy the blessings of God every day in the sun and the rain, in family and friends, in our Saviour and our churches. He has graciously given us physical life and even eternal life to those who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. We should never be guilty of overlooking God s blessings or being ungrateful for all He gives us. Praise belongs to God and He hates the sin of ingratitude as much as anything else we might regard as a major sin, such as murder. Unfortunately, it s easy to be less than grateful. It s also easy to praise God when we read His Word and understand what He has done for us as our great Provider. If the earth itself the hills, the pastures, and the valleys give silent but powerful praise to God, surely we can

11 rejoice, shout for joy, and sing His praises aloud. ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***