Psalm 66

To the leader. A Song. A Psalm.

1  Make a joyful noise to God,

all the earth;

2  sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise.

3  Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!

Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.

4  All the earth worships you;

they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name." [Selah]

5  Come and see what God has done:

he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.

6  He turned the sea into dry land;

they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him,

7  who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations—

let the rebellious not exalt themselves. [Selah]

8  Bless our God, O peoples,

let the sound of his praise be heard,

9  who has kept us among the living,

and has not let our feet slip.

10  For you, O God, have tested us;

you have tried us as silver is tried.

11  You brought us into the net;

you laid burdens on our backs;

12  you let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

This Psalm, as with Psalm 100, begins with a call for all the earth to “make a joyful noise”. The people are invited to “make a noise”, to “sing” and to “say” the “awesome deeds” of God. Even enemies will admit this and submit to the power of God.

Use this Psalm as a praise song – a song of encouragement and hope. Read it aloud as a prayer – or better still read it with someone else as a responsive Psalm.  

Ordinary 28 / Pentecost +21

50 A Friend of Souls

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 304.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.