Psalm 65

Psalm 65 belongs to Book II of the Psalms (Psalms 42–72). Its superscription reads, "To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David." The "chief Musician" is understood to be the one who directed the choir. The preceding psalm, Psalm 64, is a lament asking for protection from the secret plots of the wicked. Psalm 65, by contrast, consists entirely of praise and thanksgiving. Some interpreters group it with Psalms 66–68 as a collection of praise psalms whose superscriptions include the word "Song."

Structure

• Verses 1–4 Praise and vows are offered in Zion. All flesh comes to the God who hears prayer, and He purges away transgressions. Blessed is the one whom God chooses to dwell in His courts; such a person is satisfied with the goodness of His holy temple.
• Verses 5–8 The God of salvation is the confidence of the ends of the earth and of those far off upon the sea. By His strength He sets fast the mountains, and He stills the roaring of the seas and the tumult of the peoples.
• Verses 9–13 God visits (watches over and cares for) the earth, waters it, softens the fields with showers, and provides grain. He crowns the year with His goodness, so that the pastures are clothed with flocks and the valleys are covered with grain, and all things shout for joy and sing.

Key Verses

• Psalm 65:2 "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come." — This verse speaks both of the God who answers prayer and of a universal worship that extends beyond Israel.
• Psalm 65:3 "As for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away." — This verse shows that the forgiveness of sin lies at the foundation of temple worship and praise.
• Psalm 65:11 "Thou crownest the year with thy goodness." — This verse confesses the whole year's harvest as the gift of God's grace. The older Korean Revised Version speaks of crowning "the year's course" (nyeonsa), while the New Korean Revised Version renders it simply as crowning "the year."

People and Places

• David — Named as the author in the superscription.
• Zion — A name for Jerusalem and the place where praise is offered.
• Temple in Jerusalem — The place of worship referred to in the text as "thy courts" and "thy house."
• The river of God — Not an actual geographical name but a poetic expression for God's provision of the rain and water that refresh the earth.

Interpretive Considerations

• Davidic authorship, as stated in the superscription, has traditionally been accepted. Some scholars, however, regard the superscriptions as later additions and leave the authorship undetermined.
• The text does not state the circumstances in which the psalm was composed. Some interpret it as a festival song of thanksgiving for the harvest; others read it as thanksgiving for rain sent after a drought. Reading the forgiveness of sin in verse 3 together with the rain in verses 9 and following, some interpreters also compare it with Deuteronomy 11:13–21 and 2 Chronicles 7:13–22, which link obedience with rain.
• In the Reformed tradition, "whom thou choosest" in verse 4 is sometimes read in connection with God's sovereign election. Other interpreters hold that the phrase originally referred to the privilege of drawing near to worship at the temple.
• The image in verse 7 of God stilling the seas is often read in connection with the New Testament account of Jesus calming the sea (Calming of the Storm).

In the Korean Church

Psalm 65 is frequently used as a sermon text at Harvest Thanksgiving and Wheat Harvest (Firstfruits) Thanksgiving services. Verse 11 is also cited at year-end thanksgiving services that look back on the past year and at New Year's Eve watchnight services.