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

 

 

We are progressing through Psalm 66, verse by verse. It is world-wide in scope! It is millennial, prophetically speaking. I’ve never seen such a victorious attitude in all the Bible! Unless the Prophets “out tell” this glorious Message.

The hymn writer worded it this way:

“Jesus shall reign wherever the sun …

Does his successive journeys run!

His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

Till moons shall wax and wane no more.”

Wow!

Psalm 66:4 promises: “All the earth shall worship Thee (Lord), and shall sing unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy Name. Selah.”

The “selah” at line’s end probably is a musical sign, a “rest” or “pause” of some sort … as if inviting us to “ponder” what has just been said! The Hebrew “selah” means “to lift up, to exalt.” Surely a hint of worship being involved!

The verb “worship” itself is shachah,” used 172 times in the Old Testament! It literally means “to bow down” to show “obeisance.” And 99 times in the King James Bible it is translated “to worship!”

Who is going to so worship the Lord, the Lord Jesus?

Look … “all the earth!”

In Hebrew “kol” means “every bit, the entirety, no exceptions!”

And “earth” means “land,” or “dry land” as Jonah might have expressed it! Anywhere humankind can be found! A universal Revival. At, I believe, Jesus’ Second Coming! At the beginning of what is often called Jesus’ “Millennial Kingdom.”

Our verse again: “All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name.”

Note too the “parallel” verbs … “worship” and “sing.”

Sing is “zamar,” actually meaning “making music,” looks to me like “playing a stringed instrument!” Which generally accompanies singing.

Adoring God!

God the Son!

God our Saviour!

Studying with praise His Very Name!

Truly there is coming a time, yet future as I write, when: “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Both Isaiah 11:9 and Habakkuk 2:14 use these words.

So maybe today we can pray: “Even so … come Lord Jesus!”

By the way, that prayer is the last one in the Bible, Revelation 22:20. “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

He will!

.                 — Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Today’s Verse gets us into the “meat” of Psalm 66.

“Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.” Psalm 66:3

The things God has done!

And continues to do!

And will do yet in the future!

God’s very WORKS!

Like Balaam (of all people) said many years ago: “Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT!” Numbers 23:23, as a statement, not a question, “What hath God wrought!”

Yes indeed, God’s “works” are clearly in view, Psalm 66:3. “Maaseh” in Hebrew is the noun used here for “works,” usually meaning “deeds,” but 3 times in the Old Testament meaning “art” as in “artwork!” God, the Artist, plying His Handicraft every day!

God’s works though are here said to be “terrible.” And “yare” means “fearful.” But once it means “to be reverenced!” Like our concept, “awesome!”

“Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.” Psalm 66:3

The noun “power” is spelled “oz” in Hebrew. It means “might” and “boldness.” It derives from the verb meaning “to prevail, to be victorious!” To be “hard,” unrelenting!

And for the idea of the enemies (grammatically, those who hate God) “submitting,” the Psalmist used “kachash,” a verb meaning “to be insufficient, to grow lean!” These God-fighters were “no match” for the Almighty!

It sounds like our Psalm is declaring both the Wonder of God … and His mighty Strength as well. God is to be adored! And obeyed too!

One more time: “Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.” Psalm 66:3

Oh yes, the opening verb, “to say” (spelled “amar”) is framed in the imperative mood! It means “to talk” about our great God in the manner prescribed in the verse! Rather, to talk to Him in that way!

Tell God today how GREAT He is!

And how VICTORIOUS!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today we have a good example of the “parallelism” that accompanies so much of Hebrew Poetry. Psalm 66:2 is short but didactic in this area.

The nations of the earth are being urged to: “Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.” God’s Name, His Praise!

What a choir that will be!

I can hear them singing. John did too, from the vantage point of Bible prophecy. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10

The parallelism of which I spoke is found in two words in our Psalm 66:2 line. Really a double line of thought.

Sing forth the honour of His Name …

Make His Praise glorious!

Two verbs in each half, “sing forth” and “make.” In Hebrew “zamar” (to play an instrument) and “sum” (to appoint, ordain, mark).

Then a twofold use of the concept “honour!” The noun “kabod” being used in each case. That which is “heavy, weighty” in one’s estimation! Something you think a lot of, highly value!

Everything here “hinges” on the NAME of the Lord!

The noun “praise” comes from the Hebrew “halel” stem. As in Hallelujah! It means “to shine!” Then “to brag, boast” in our Lord!

And as you know, the “name” of the Lord includes all He is, all His Attributes, His Essence, His very Character, in all His Beauty!

This is worship, indeed.

Let us today, each of us, try to do this very thing.

“Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.”

Sing of Him!

Praise Him!

Think upon Him!

Honor Him!

Glorify Him!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Here’s today’s Verse: “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands.” Short Text this morning, Psalm 66:1 in its entirety.

“Make a joyful noise” is just one word in Hebrew, “rua,” but pronounced “roo-ah,” accenting the last syllable. The verb is an imperative. We are literally being commanded to praise the Lord! And rightly so. And “rua” means? “To shout, to raise a loud sound, to cry out, to triumph!”

Wow!

The preposition “unto” is spelled “le,” indicating “towards, to, for, in regard to,” God being the Focus of our praise! “God” as in “Elohiym,” the Divine Strong One! Also the One Who is Triune! Father, Son, Holy Spirit!

But who is to praise Him?

“All lands!”

“All” translates “kol,” meaning “no exceptions!” The “whole” of any entity!

And “lands” is “eretzs,” actually “earth” … yet meaning the inhabitants thereof, of course.

Planet-wide praise of God!

And I personally believe that will occur some day. When: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

Psalm 24:1 says something similar. “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. This is the generation of them that seek Him.” Psalm 24:1 and 6, amazing!

Jesus is coming again!

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7, wailing before believing … then praising and shouting for his Names’ Sake.

And ultimately: “Every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 14:16, yes!

Every one!

To worship the King!

Then today’s Verse again: “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands.”

Mark it down.

It will happen.

And, dear Believing Friends, we shall be in that massive company of worshippers as well, praising His dear Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell