Psalm 65 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

65:1

Psalm 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.

Praise waiteth for thee — literally, “To Thee silence praise,” or (compare Psalm 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 Psalm 50:14, are rendered in Zion, where God chiefly displays His mercy and receives homage.

65:2

All are encouraged to pray by God‘s readiness to hear.

65:3

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.”

65:4 [and] satisfied with the goodness temple — denote communion with God (Psalm 15:1; Psalm 23:6; compare Psalm 5:7). This is a blessing for all God‘s people, as denoted by the change of number.65:5

terrible things — that is, by the manifestation of justice and wrath to enemies, accompanying that of mercy to His people (Psalm 63:9-11; Psalm 64:7-9).

the confidence — object of it.

of all earth — the whole world; that is, deservedly such, whether men think so or not.

65:6-13

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 (Psalm 26:7; Psalm 98:1, etc.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.

65:8

outgoings of rejoice — all people from east to west.

65:9

visitest — in mercy (compare Psalm 8:4).

river of God — His exhaustless resources.

65:11

thy paths — ways of providence (Psalm 25:4, Psalm 25:10).

65:12

wilderness — places, though not inhabited by men, fit for pasture (Leviticus 16:21, Leviticus 16:22; Job 24:5).

pastures — is literally, “folds,” or “enclosures for flocks”; and in Psalm 65:13 it may be “lambs,” the same word used and so translated in Psalm 37:20; so that “the flocks are clothed with lambs” (a figure for abundant increase) would be the form of expression.