Psalm Chapter 66

Psalm 66: Through Fire to a Wealthy Place

Here is a psalm that begins as wide as the world — "Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands" — and ends as intimate as a whispered prayer. The psalmist summons every nation to witness what God has done, and what has He done? He turned the sea to dry land, yes, but that is not the heart of it. The heart of it is this: "Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried." God brought His people into the net. He laid affliction upon their loins. He caused men to ride over their heads. They went through fire and through water. And then — the turn that makes the whole psalm sing — "but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place." The testing was not the destination; it was the road. Every furnace had an exit, and every flood had a far shore. And now the psalmist, standing in that wealthy place at last, does the only thing that makes sense: he opens his mouth and declares what God has done for his soul. Not for the world in general, but for his soul in particular. The cosmic praise has become personal testimony.

00:00 Make a Joyful Noise, All Ye Lands
01:00 Tried as Silver Is Tried
02:00 What He Hath Done for My Soul