“Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow: Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!” —T.O. Chisolm
We began a study of the singer’s Show & Tell in our previous look at Psalm 66. Remember the beginning and concluding invitations: “Come and see the works of God” (v 5) and then “Come and hear, all you who fear God” (v 16). It’s great to see God’s wonderful works in creation, history, and providence. But the psalmist also wants to testify what the Lord has done for him personally. We mentioned there were five stanzas. Stanza 1 (vv 1-4) presents God and His “works” for “all the earth” (see vv 1, 3, 4). Stanza 2 (vv 5-7) focuses on God and His “works” for Israel (v 5), especially in the Exodus (v 6). Even so, “His eyes observe the nations” (v 7), never leaving them out of His plan. Now if His works in creation are amazing, and His works in redemption are awesome, what is spoken about in Stanza 3 (vv 8-12)? Ah, this is His work when He “tested us…refined us,” when “we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment” (vv 10, 12). The Hebrew word translated “rich fulfillment” is rewâyâ, meaning “satisfaction or abundance,” the same word used in Psalm 23 where our cup “runs over.” Can we “make the voice of His praise to be heard” (v 8) for that, too? Stanza 4 now takes us into God’s “house” (v 13). What works are these? The “burnt offerings…vows [also offerings],…burnt sacrifices of fat animals, with the sweet aroma of rams;…bulls with goats” (vv 13-15). What holy ground, speaking of the Son and the work He finished for us! Thus Stanza 5 (vv 16-20) points to God’s deep work within the author. “I will declare what He has done for my soul” (v 16). He shouldn’t have heard me, but He DID hear me, answering my prayer and showing His mercy to me. “Blessed be God” (v 20)!