Psalms
Chapter 65
O God, You Deserve a Hymn in Zion
Praise belongs to you, O God, in Zion; here people come to fulfill their vows.
All mortals bring to you their evil deeds, to you, who answer prayers.
Though our faults prevail over us, you forgive our sins.
Blessed is the one you choose to approach you, and take, to dwell in your courts. In your house we are satisfied with the good things of your holy temple.
With awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us, O God our savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of distant islands.
By your power, you set up the mountains.
By your strength the seas were calmed; you lull their roaring waves and the turmoil of the nations.
Those who dwell at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your marvelous deeds. You make joyful, the dawn, and the coming of dusk.
You water the land and care for it, enriching it with natural resources. God’s stream is filled with water; so you prepare the earth to give us its fruits.
You drench the furrows in the land and level the ridges; you soften the soil with showers and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your goodness; abundance flows everywhere.
The deserts have become pastureland, the hills are clothed with gladness;
the meadows, covered with flocks, the valleys, decked with grain— they shout and sing for joy.
Commentaries
65
Learning from the Exodus, Israel came to know God as their savior. When she shifted from a semi-nomadic to a settled agricultural lifestyle, the cycle of sowing and harvesting, early rains, and summer ripening allowed her to see God as a giver of life and a creator. The experience was clear and immediate; no modern farming techniques dulled the sense of wonder. For Israel, it was God alone who decorated the flowers. Perhaps we should try to recapture this feeling of God working through winter to bring new life and colors. This same power raised Christ’s body and will continue to strengthen us, working through the winter of our lives.
This abundance of material things prompts us to consider another kind of abundance that God assured his friends about. The Church also experiences spring rains, summer harvests, and songs of joy. That should remind us that God is active through all seasons and weather. Suppose most Christians and Church communities no longer dare to ask God for the weather needed for a good harvest. In that case, that is not because our faith is now more spiritual, but because we, unfortunately, feel more comfortable with a powerless God.