Psalm-66
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Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917
version of the Tanakh).
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the
following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE
WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT,
that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם -
the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction to Psalm 66:
Psalm 66 is a magnificent “Psalm of Thanksgiving”
that moves from the national to the personal. It begins with a universal call
for all the earth to acknowledge אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s (God) awesome power
shown throughout history, specifically the miracle of the Red Sea. In the
second half, the Psalm shifts to the first person (“I”), as the Psalmist brings
his personal offerings to the Temple, testifying that אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim has heard his individual
prayer during a time of great trial.
Let us now read Tehillim - Psalms Chapter 66: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1.
For the Leader. A Song, a
Psalm. Shout unto אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, all the earth;
2. Sing praises unto the glory of His Name; make His
praise glorious.
3. Say unto אֱלֹהִים: ‘How tremendous is Thy work! Through the
greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies dwindle
away before Thee.
4. All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing
praises unto Thee; they shall sing praises to Thy Name’. Selah
5. Come, and see the works of אֱלֹהִים; He is terrible in His doing toward the
children of men.
6. He turned the sea into dry land; they went through
the river on foot; there let us rejoice in Him!
7. Who ruleth by His might
for ever; His eyes keep watch upon the nations;
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
8. Bless our אֱלֹהִים, ye peoples, and make the voice of His
praise to be heard;
9. Who hath set our soul in life, and suffered not
our foot to be moved,
10. For Thou, O אֱלֹהִים, hast tried us; Thou hast refined us, as
silver is refined.
11. Thou didst bring us into the hold; Thou didst
lay constraint upon our loins.
12. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we
went through fire and through water; but Thou didst bring us out unto
abundance.
13. I will come into Thy house with burnt-offerings,
I will perform unto Thee my vows,
14. Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath
spoken, when I was in distress.
15. I will offer unto Thee burnt-offerings of
fatlings, with the sweet smoke of rams;
I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah
16. Come, and hearken, all ye that fear אֱלֹהִים, and I will declare what He hath done for
my soul.
17. I cried unto Him with my mouth, and He was
extolled with my tongue.
18. If I had regarded iniquity in my heart, יְהוָה - the LORD would not hear;
19. But verily אֱלֹהִים hath heard; He hath attended to the voice
of my prayer.
20. Blessed be אֱלֹהִים, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor
His mercy from me
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Let us now turn to the ‘verse by verse’ with explanations:
1. “For the Leader. A Song, a Psalm. Shout unto אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, all the earth”.
Explanation: The Psalm begins with a “Shout” (Hariu), a joyful blast of noise. It is an invitation for every nation to join in the chorus of praise.
2. “Sing forth the glory of His Name; make His praise glorious”.
Explanation: We are encouraged not just to sing, but to make the praise “glorious” giving, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the highest quality of our musical and spiritual attention.
3. “Say unto אֱלֹהִים - Elohim: ‘How tremendous is Thy work! Through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies dwindle away before Thee’”.
Explanation: The Psalmist addresses אֱלֹהִים - Elohim directly. The “tremendous work” is the mastery אֱלֹהִים - Elohim holds over history, causing even the most stubborn enemies to lose their strength.
4. All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy Name. Selah.
Explanation: This is a prophetic vision of a world united in the recognition of the Divine. "Selah" marks a moment to pause and reflect on this global harmony.
5. “Come, and see the works of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; He is terrible in His doing toward the children of men”.
Explanation: “Come and see” is an invitation to examine history. The word “terrible” (Nora) here means “awesome” or “inspiring dread and wonder”.
6. “He turned the sea into dry land; they went through the river on foot; there let us rejoice in Him!”
Explanation: David points to the Exodus and the crossing of the Jordan. These were not just past events; they are reasons for “us” to rejoice in the present.
7. “He ruleth by His might for ever; His eyes keep watch upon the nations; let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah”.
Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is the eternal Watchman. He observes every nation, ensuring that those who rebel against righteousness do not ultimately prevail.
8. “Bless our אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, ye peoples, and make the voice of His praise to
be heard”.
9. “Who hath set our soul in life,
and suffered not our foot to be moved”.
Explanation: The psalmist thanks אֱלֹהִים for preservation. In the midst of chaos, אֱלֹהִים kept the soul alive and the feet steady on the path.
10. “For Thou, O אֱלֹהִים, hast proved us; Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried”.
Explanation: This is a profound insight into suffering. Trials are compared to the refining of silver, a process that uses heat to remove impurities and leave behind what is pure and valuable.
11. “Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou layedst
a sore burden upon our loins”.
12. “Thou hast caused men to ride
over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place”.
Explanation: This describes the intensity of the struggle. Whether it was the “net” of captivity or the “fire and water” of persecution, the end goal was the “wealthy place”, a state of spiritual and physical abundance.
13. “I will come into Thy
house with burnt-offerings, I will perform unto Thee my vows”,
14. “Which my lips have uttered,
and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in distress”.
Explanation: The Psalm shifts to the individual. David is fulfilling the promises he made to אֱלֹהִים while he was suffering. He is a man of his word.
15. “I will offer unto Thee burnt-offerings of fatlings, with the sweet smoke of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah”.
Explanation: He brings the best of his flock. The “sweet smoke” symbolizes the sincerity of his gratitude rising to heaven.
16. “Come, and hear, all ye that fear, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul”.
Explanation: This is the “Testimony”. David invites the faithful to listen to his personal story of deliverance.
17. “I cried unto Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue”.
Explanation: He used his voice to pray, and now he uses that same voice to lift אֱלֹהִים - Elohim up in praise.
18. “If I had regarded iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not hear”,
Explanation: This is a vital spiritual lesson: Sincerity is the key to prayer. If David had clung to sin while praying, the connection would have been broken.
19. “But verily אֱלֹהִים - Elohim hath heard; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer”.
Explanation: The evidence of David's sincerity is the fact that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim answered. The silence was broken by Divine intervention.
20. “Blessed be אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me”.
Explanation: The Psalm concludes with a blessing. The greatest gift is not just the answer to the prayer, but the fact that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Chesed (Mercy/Loving-kindness) remains constant.
My Closing Message:
Verse 12 of this Psalm is especially for you my dear readers: “We went through fire and through water; but Thou brought us out into a wealthy place”. For sadly there are many who have been through the “fire” of illness and the “water” of frustration. My prayer is that this study brings you into that “wealthy place” of spiritual peace today. May you feel that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim has “attended to the voice of your prayers” and may His mercy be never turned away from you!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you,
saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of
hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes,
and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall
be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the
LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel
- Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is
the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers)
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(blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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