February 7, 2018 (Wednesday)
We know about corporate prayer. That’s when we all join together with someone who prays aloud. We literally pray with him or her. Our spokesman in prayer prays aloud, but we are all praying the same prayer together as he/she prays. The first part of this psalm (verses 1-12) is a corporate prayer from the nation, thanking God for his blessings. The second part (verses 13-20) is a personal prayer, thanking God and promising to keep on praising Him for all His help.
PSALM 66
New International Version (NIV)
For the director of music. A song. A psalm.
I. LET ALL THE EARTH WORSHIP GOD (1-40
1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
2 Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”
II. GOD HELPS HIS PEOPLE (5-7)
5 Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot–
come, let us rejoice in him.
7 He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations–
let not the rebellious rise up against him.
III. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS DELIVERANCE (8-12)
8 Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
IV. I WILL KEEP MY PROMISE AND PAY MY VOWS (13-15)
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you–
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.
V. BLESS GOD FOR HIS LOVINGKINDNESS (16-20)
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
New International Version (NIV)
For the director of music. A song. A psalm.
I. LET ALL THE EARTH WORSHIP GOD (1-40
1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
2 Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”
II. GOD HELPS HIS PEOPLE (5-7)
5 Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot–
come, let us rejoice in him.
7 He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations–
let not the rebellious rise up against him.
III. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS DELIVERANCE (8-12)
8 Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
IV. I WILL KEEP MY PROMISE AND PAY MY VOWS (13-15)
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you–
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.
V. BLESS GOD FOR HIS LOVINGKINDNESS (16-20)
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!