Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 65
65:1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,
65:2 O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.
65:3 When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
65:4 Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
65:5 By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.
65:6 By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might.
65:7 You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.
65:8 Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
65:9 You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
65:10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
65:11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
65:12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,
65:13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.
Reflections
God is our number one source of comfort, strength and joy. He is also the one who can offer us the true source of forgiveness and make us whole again. This Psalm speaks to who God is and all that He’s done for us:
- He is the all satisfying source of goodness (vs 4). In Him we can find our true satisfaction in this life.
- He is our number one deliverer in times of trouble (vs 3)
- He is our true source of hope (vs 3)
- He is our number one source of strength (vs 6)
- He is the number one authority over everything in this world (vs 7)
- He is the number one sustainer of everything in this world (vs 9)
As a result of all these things our response should be to turn and praise and give thanks for all that He’s done for us. Let us praise Him and strive to live our lives as a true representation of who He is.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
There are many reasons to praise the Lord, a few listed above in Psalm 65. One that I think is particularly difficult for humans is forgiveness. We struggle at times to forgive others. We struggle even to forgive ourselves. Yet, God forgives freely and endlessly. He never withholds His mercy and grace. And when we are forgiven our sins are forgotten. They no longer exist.
Take heart in knowing that nothing we do can separate us from the forgiveness of God. Nothing can drive His love away. You are covered in His grace at all times.
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