Praise is due to God from all the world because of His mighty works,
but praise especially waits for Him in His church among His people.
Psalm 1
1 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Psalm 1 – J. Vernon McGee
Psalm 65 – Abundant Favor from Our Gracious God
This joyous hymn was probably composed for use in the sanctuary at one of the great annual festivals. It deals expressly with God’s bounty in the fertility of the earth.
The Temple courts, Psalm 65:1-4
God hears our prayer, purges away our transgressions, chooses us, and causes us to approach. Let us ask Him to cause us to approach and to make us dwell in the consciousness of His presence. If iniquities prevail and transgressions shame us, there is provision for these also. God shall purge them away. For such condescending love all flesh shall ultimately come to His footstool.
Terrible things, Psalm 65:5-7
Thunder tones and lightning flashes, inaccessible mountains and roaring seas—such are the darker aspects of nature. But beneath all, like a sweet refrain, we hear Him praised as the God of salvation. Make Him your confidence, by land and sea.
The beauty and order of the world, Psalm 65:8-13
Brimming rivers, soft spring showers, golden harvests, the hum of the bees in mountain pastures, the call of the ewes to their lambs—all bespeak God’s goodness. Let us ask Him to visit our hearts with the throb of springtime. —Through the Bible Day by Day
Psalm 65:4—Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee.
I would be one of those favored ones, my Savior. There is nothing that the heart can conceive, which is to be compared with this blessedness. The light of nature, the joy of friendship, the fascination of art and books, can give no such delight as this approach unto Thee, this dwelling in thy courts. But the longer I know myself, the surer I am that Thou must cause me to approach, that Thou must put forth extraordinary means for making me dwell. So cause me to approach that I may dwell.
When thy soul has put up such a prayer as this, be sure that an answer will come. Thou mayest be brought nigh by an invisible but all-penetrating attraction, as when the sun draws the earth, or the magnet the needle: or perhaps God will answer thee by terrible things in righteousness. There will be deep humiliations, solemn heart-searchings, sharp crucifixions, cherished purposes thwarted, the keenest pain, the most searching fire. But through all, there will come a growing tenderness and desire.
It was said by the late Mr. Spurgeon that he was not conscious of spending a quarter of an hour of his waking moments without a distinct recognition of the presence of God. And this will be true of us if we will trust the great High Priest to bring us within the vail, and keep us there. He entered that we may enter. He abides that we may abide. He stands in the Holiest that He may cause us to have a place of access among those that stand before the face of God. The anointing which we receive from Him will teach us how to abide. This may well be adopted as a life-prayer: “Cause me to approach, that I may dwell in thy presence.” —Our Daily Homily