“Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.” Psalm 66:1-2 NIV
Most of the psalms are prayers for God’s help. We identify with them because we frequently find ourselves in situations where we urgently need God’s strength and deliverance. They serve as compasses that keep us on course through the distresses and challenges of life. What are we to do, then, after God gives us the victory; after we receive His help and deliverance? Psalm 66 answers the question, guiding us to acknowledge and praise Him, to understand His purpose for trials, and to renew our commitment to Him. The author and original occasion of Psalm 66 are not specifically revealed. One thing is clear, however: it is a hymn of thanksgiving to celebrate God’s deliverance of Israel from a severe crisis. God had done something so miraculous for His people that they ranked the occasion with the parting of the Red Sea. Many scholars believe the occasion was God’s supernatural deliverance of the nation from Assyria and Sennacherib (2 Kings 19; Isaiah 36-37). If this is the setting, King Hezekiah would have been the leader of this celebration and the one whose personal testimony concludes the psalm. This psalm is marked by a clear movement from corporate praise to personal praise. Commentator Derek Kidner captured what was most likely the original setting: “We may picture the scene of public worship . . . in which the corporate praise gives way to the voice of this single worshipper, who stands with his gifts before the altar, and speaks of the God whose care is not only world- and nation-wide, but personal: I will tell what he has done for me.”(Derek Kidner, Psalms 1-72, p. 251).
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, may we always remember to give You thanks.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, may we never forget to give You praise after You have brought us through challenging times, for You have given us the victory. All glory and honour belongs to You alone. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
Exodus 31:1-11
LISTEN TO TODAY’S DEVOTION
If you received our daily emails, please listen to today’s devotion on our website www.ffdl.co.za
On Facebook follow this link to start listening.