Some of the old expositors speak of this psalm as "the Lord's Prayer in the Old Testament."
A summons to praise, Psalms 66:1-4
The devout soul cannot be glad alone. It demands sympathy in its raptures. All the earth is not too great for an orchestra, nor all mankind for a choir. God's love may compel a feigned obedience, Psalms 66:3, R.V., margin, but the divine Spirit changes the heart.
Divine deliverance, Psalms 66:5-12
Come and see. Compare John 1:39-40. Let us never forget the great past. The Red Sea and the Jordan have their counterparts in all lives. How often God has turned our seas into dry land, and cleaved paths through our rivers! Through the flood on foot is a miracle of daily experience. The rebels exalt themselves, but we are unmoved. We are tried in the fire, but no atom perishes. We go through persecution and oppression, but we come forth into abundance.
The payment of vows, Psalms 66:13-15
Let us pay under bright skies what we vowed under dark ones. Pay your vows; declare what God has done for you; offer not beasts, but offer yourself, as a living sacrifice unto God! Romans 12:1. [source]
Chapter Summary: Psalms 66
1David exhorts to praise God 5observe his great works 8to bless him for his gracious benefits 12He vows for himself reverent service to God 16He declares God's special goodness to himself
What do the individual words in Psalms 66:1 mean?
To the Chief Musiciana Songa PsalmMake a joyful shoutto Godallthe earth
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.