Psalms 66:16-20

Psalms 66:16-20

[16] and hear,  all ye that fear  God,  and I will declare  what he hath done  for my soul.  [17] I cried  unto him with my mouth,  with  my tongue.  [18] If I regard  iniquity  in my heart,  the Lord  will not hear  [19] But verily  God  hath heard  me; he hath attended  to the voice  of my prayer.  [20] Blessed  be God,  which hath not turned away  my prayer,  nor his mercy 

What does Psalms 66:16-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In these verses the writer addressed the congregated nation, not God. This is declarative praise. God had answered the psalmist"s petition that arose out of a pure heart. God will not listen to the prayer of a person who nurses sin in his or her heart. He hears it, of course, because He knows all, but He will not hear it in the sense of answering it, under normal circumstances. The psalm closes with the psalmist"s personal benediction to God for granting his petition and bestowing His loyal love.
When God"s people are in need they should purify their hearts and pray. When they do, He will answer and bless them. This should cause other people to honor and praise God.