Psalm 66:1-8 - Praising God with Shout and Song

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name." Selah Psalm 66 is classified as a “Praise Psalm”.  From the first two verses we are exhorted to both “shout joyfully” with our best voice to God along with all the earth. And to “sing out” with the best singers, (“The Chief Musician”), the honor that is due to His wonderful name! We are told to “make His praise glorious”. Notice “all the earth” is to be involved in this activity of praising the LORD! I believe this means both the physical earth and all the creatures in it including the people in it. I love getting up early before the sun rises and go outside and listen to God’s creation wake up singing praises to the LORD! The first thing I hear, even when it is still too dark to see them, are the birds chirping and singing as they begin their day! What an awesome sound, and also a great time to begin our quiet time with LORD, as we meditate and lift up our hearts to Him. Sometimes I think the sound and singing of creation is better than any choir I’ve ever heard! Then as the sun rises and begins to shine, the beautiful flowers my wife has planted all around our house turn their faces toward the sun to soak in the light and life that come from it! All of creation praises Him for He alone supplies everything it needs to flourish and be fruitful! Scripture tells us that even the animals wait on Him and are dependent for their daily food from Him (Psalm 104). Jesus said the birds of the air don’t worry about their daily food because God care for each one of them (Matthew 6:26). We are told to “Sing out the honor of His name”.  Our great and awesome God has over 700 names and titles that are attributed to Him in the Scriptures! One name is not enough to describe Him! He is Elohim, our Creator God! He is Jehovah, the “Great I AM”. He is our personal God Who alone is everything we need! He is Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD Who provides our salvation by His sacrifice on the cross! He is Jehovah-Roi, the LORD Who is our great and good Shepherd leading, guiding and protecting us all the day long! We also know His name as Jesus, Who is our wonderful Savior! Isaiah had a prophetic vision of the LORD in Isaiah 9:6-7 and he wrote: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” If Hezekiah is indeed the writer of this Psalm, and many Bible scholars believe that he is, it is possible that Isaiah, who was the prophet during his reign, shared these words with him and that is why he proclaims, “Sing out the honor of His name!”  What a tragedy that so many today, instead of praising His glorious and awesome name, are blaspheming His holy name. They do this with both their mouths and their actions! May the LORD have mercy on them, especially after He has done so much for them! He created the very breath they breathe, and the lungs that take it in! It is my prayer that today we will “come and see” the awesome works of the LORD all around us and make and take the time to join creation in our praise, and in our songs and prayers of thanksgiving. The writer of Hebrews put it this way in Hebrews 13:15-16, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” God bless!