We hear a plea for mercy, but this time the psalmist asks for mercy not for himself, and not even only for his own...
We hear a plea for mercy, but this time the psalmist asks for mercy not for himself, and not even only for his own people, chosen to walk before the Lord, but also for all the nations that still resist Him. Yet God’s mercy toward people is manifested not only in caring for their needs; it is inseparable from the Revelation God has granted about Himself and His will. Therefore the psalmist desires that all peoples and tribes acknowledge God as their Lord. At the same time, he does not want them to bow before the majesty of the Truth because they have been crushed by its grandeur, but wants the Truth revealed to them to make their life joyful.
This psalm alone is enough to refute the claims of those who say that the Old Testament is supposedly important for only one people and that its commandments and prophecies do not concern anyone else. But this is not the only passage in the Old Testament that prophetically reveals the destiny of all nations, whom the Lord equally desires to save.
66 The psalmist calls on all people to praise God, for his sovereign power over the whole creation, Psa 66:1-7.
For his special favour to his people, Psa 66:8-12.
Praises him for his goodness to himself in particular, Psa 66:13-20.
To the chief musician, A song or psalm.
66:1 All lands - Ye people of all nations. He invites the Gentile world, to the contemplation and celebration of God's works.
66:6 We - Our nation, or our ancestors, in whose loins we then were.
66:10 Proved us - As it were in a burning furnace; and with a design to purge out our dross.
66:11 Net - Which our enemies laid for us.
66:12 To ride - To use us like slaves.
66:15 I will go - One speaks in the name of all the rest.Incense - With the fat of rams, which is no less pleasing to God than incense.
66:18 Iniquity - Any sin. In heart - If my heart had been false to God, although I might have forborne outward acts. If I had been guilty of that, by heart was set upon sin, or I desired only that which I resolved in my heart to spend upon my lusts.