As we have done every week for about 12 years now, a new journey through some Text of the Bible is underway! Psalm 66 is our current Study. And Verse 5 our focus today. The psalmist, a worshipper of Almighty God, invites others to “come and see” the works of His Great Lord!

“Come and see the works of God: He is terrible in His doing toward the children of men.” Psalm 66:5, King James Version

This is witnessing, and worship too!

The two opening verbs are both imperatives, expressing commands! But they sound like simple invitations. “Come” is “yalak” in Hebrew, just meaning “to walk.” Or at least meaning “walk” 122 times in the Old Testament. And “see” translates “raah,” meaning “to see” … much as a shepherd does, carefully observing his flock.

“Study,” using a parallel verb, the works of God!

Many of the world’s early scientists had this view. That their research was merely following in God’s Footsteps, “seeing” His patterns of handiwork!

The noun “works” is “miphal,” a rare word indeed, only found 3 times in the Bible! But it is derived from the much more common “paal,” used 56 times. And “miphal” means “the thing made,” more precisely. God’s creation!

This writer (of Psalm 66) believes God’s “fingerprints” are all over God’s works!

But then God is called “terrible!”

“Come and see the works of God: He is TERRIBLE in His doing toward the children of men.”

The adjective “terrible” is “yare.” Yes, it means “to tremble” in the presence of someone. But it also has the idea of “reverence” built into it.

Then comes the gerund “doing,” another unusual word, found only 24 times in the Bible. “Aliylah” means “inventions!” God’s “practices,” His very habits!

“Children of men” likely indicates all of humanity.

In other words, just occasionally stop … and ponder the works of God!

Psalm 143:5 might help us here. “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.”

Here both “meditate” and “muse” have similar connotations. “To think deeply” and to keep such objects (God’s Works) in mind throughout the day, the night as well!

Wow!

Sharing God … through a consideration of His created works!

What a wonderful idea.

Intelligent Design, for sure!

I close with Paul in Romans 1:20. “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.”

Yes indeed.

.                 — Dr. Mike Bagwell