Count Your Blessings
David wants God’s people in this psalm to praise Him as they think about His great blessings upon them. This psalm gives three reasons why God should be praised.
First of all, God is our Saviour (65:1-4)! The most important blessings from the Lord are spiritual blessings. David says that believers owe God their praise because He answers our prayers (65:1-2). This is a characteristic of God Himself; that He hears and acts upon the prayers of His people, both Jews and Gentiles (65:2). David says that sin prevents people from coming to the Lord (65:3-4). But there is good news, God forgives sins (65:3)! It is through Jesus Christ that God’s wrath is satisfied and the repentant are brought near. David speaks of the believer as “chosen,”by God, “abiding” with God, and finding “satisfaction” in the goodness of God (65:4).
God is our Sovereign (65:5-8)! Believers should be encouraged to pray after reading of God’s awesome acts in the past in response to His people’s prayers (65:5). Believers can trust God because he has demonstrated His awesome power in the creation of the mighty mountains, and His control of the mighty waves of the sea, and the destiny of the rebellious nations of the earth (65:-7). All of creation is under his sovereign control (65:8).
God is our Sustainer (65:9-13)! We can look around us and see the great bounty that God brings to the earth (65:9-13). His people are truly blessed, not just with what they need, but with a great “overflow” (65:9). God as never stingy with His people; and His provision is inexhaustible.
In light of the great spiritual and physical blessings that God showers upon His people; let us sing His praises and shout with joy in our thanksgiving to Him.