Psalm 66

This Psalm, author unknown, has four divisions, strophes, the first three ending with the musical mark, Selah. Verses 1-4 are a call to whole-hearted praise: “Shout joyfully to God, all the earth!” We are then (verses 5-7) invited to, “Come and see,” the awesome works of God, works of deliverance.

The challenge, however, is when the writer includes God’s disciplines, not necessarily punishments, of Israel as worthy of praise. “You have tried us, O God; you have refined us as silver is refined (v10, fr. 8-15). And finally, v16, “Come and hear.” All of God’s deeds are worthy of our attention and our praise.