stephen R Harrison

God is our provider both spiritually and physically and for this we give Him praise. This is the theme of Psalm 65. We praise Him for His salvation and forgiveness (vv. 1-4). We praise Him for His power over everything everywhere (vv. 5-8). We praise Him for provision and compassion (vv. 9-13). As David began this psalm, we also say today, “Praise awaits You, our God” (v. 1). We thank God for His salvation – He alone can save and forgive! We also thank Him for His power in creation and over all the earth – He alone is All-Powerful! We thank God for His provision and sustenance – He alone waters the earth and grows the harvest! All of this causes blessings (v. 4) and joy (vv. 8, 13).

Notice something else. David moved from praise from the righteous in Jerusalem and the temple in verses 1-4 to praise from creation in the whole earth in verses 5-13. Those whose prayers have been answered (v. 2), whose sins have been forgiven (v. 3), and whose lives have been changed (v. 4) cannot help but praise the Lord! These are those who notice and give recognition to God as the “hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas” (v. 5). God is not just to be praised in church but also throughout all creation! He created the mountains (v. 6) and calms the seas and nations (v. 7). He not only did powerful works in the beginning, He does them now as well! He is the Savior, Creator, and Sustainer!
Even the rising and setting of the sun causes those changed by God to praise His name with “songs of joy” (v. 8). Everything God created and sustains should invoke praise and joy in the saved person’s life!

Most people can recognize the mountains, oceans, and the sun’s rising and setting and praise God for them. David, however, takes the worship of God and His majesty and power a step further by noticing and praising Him for the intricate smaller details as well. God is the One Who waters the land causing grain to grow and feed people (vv. 9-13). Some would give thanks to the farmer, and we should to some degree for their labor, but it is God Who supplies and creates the seed and water (v. 9), softens the soil He made (v. 10), and grows the crops (v. 11). In fact, all of the earth’s vegetation, not just the farmed lands, grows because of the Lord (v. 12). Even the flocks of animals and the grains over all the earth are provided by Him and they “shout for joy and sing” (v. 13). If the sheep and the corn shout and sing, shouldn’t we be louder and more intentional in our praise?

Questions:

1. Do you praise the Lord in church and in creation?
2. Do you give Him credit and glory for the most intricate details of creation?
3. Do the sheep and corn praise Him more than you?

Prayer:
Lord, praise awaits You from my lips, heart, and life. No sheep or cornstalk will out-praise me. I must admit, You alone are the Savior, Creator, and Sustainer of life. Let everything give You praise and may I be first in line. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.