Psalm 66 has really been a blessing and challenge to my personal worship lately. I love finding the passages in Psalm that I can rest in for a period of time in my life. Psalm 66 starts with a great call to worship. So many action words describing the "how" of our worship. Phrases like:
- Shout for joy
- Sing the glory of his name
- Give Him glorious praise
- Say to God
The first four verses of Psalm 66 are filled with the example, the call, even the command to praise the name of Jesus!
I particularly like the moments in this Psalm where the Selah's are placed. A selah is often thought of as a pause or moment of reflection. As I was reading this passage again more recently, I wrote down some words beside each moment of selah that have helped to lead my worship within the liturgy of Psalm 66.
REMEMBER (vs. 5-7)
- Much of our recognition of God, often comes from what we've seen to be true about him in our past experiences. The Psalmist recounts the many acts of faithfulness that God used to deliver His people.
RECOGNIZE (vs. 8-12)
- The Psalmist recognizes God's sovereign hand in the trials and hardships that we face. This is counter-cultural, but as the Psalmist reflects, the Lord often allows trials, and puts a weight upon our backs, but a place of abundance is there for those who endure. Endurance produces worship...
RESPOND (vs. 13-15)
- Verses 13-15 speak of the sacrifices and offerings and vows that are offered up to a Holy God. This is the worship that was produced in the endured trial. To lean on the Lord is to find His faithfulness...To find His faithfulness is to surrender to His plans, His will, His glory. Whether our response is a burnt offering or a song, it comes from recognizing God's hand in our suffering, and faithfulness in our deliverance.
RETELL (vs. 16-20)
- Perhaps the lack of a better "R" word, I love how the Psalmist wraps up this passage. He says, come and hear, and I will tell you what he has done for my soul. He relives, recounts, or retells the stories of God's faithfulness and deliverance. God who comforts us in our own affliction, often opens the doors that we might comfort others in theirs.
All of this, so beautifully works to produce the "how" of our worship seen in verses 1-4. Through remembering God's faithfulness, recognizing God's hand in our trials, responding in sacrifice, and retelling of God's deliverance, our joy will be loud, our praise will be sung, and the Lord will be worshiped.