Praise awaits You, O God, in Zion; to You our vows will be fulfilled. Praise awaits YouThe Hebrew word for "praise" here is "תְּהִלָּה" (tehillah), which signifies a song of praise or a hymn. This word is often used in the Psalms to denote a form of worship that is both vocal and communal. The phrase "awaits You" suggests a sense of anticipation and readiness, indicating that the people of God are prepared to offer their worship. In the context of ancient Israel, praise was not just an individual act but a collective expression of gratitude and reverence towards God. This reflects the communal nature of worship in the temple, where the Israelites would gather to honor God together. O God
The term "God" here is translated from the Hebrew "אֱלֹהִים" (Elohim), a plural form that denotes majesty and power. It is a common name for God in the Old Testament, emphasizing His sovereignty and authority over all creation. The use of "Elohim" in this verse underscores the greatness and worthiness of God to receive praise. It reminds the reader of the divine nature of God, who is both transcendent and immanent, deserving of all honor and worship. in Zion
"Zion" refers to the hill in Jerusalem where the temple was built, symbolizing the dwelling place of God among His people. In a broader sense, Zion represents the spiritual center of Israel's worship and the focal point of God's presence on earth. Historically, Zion was the site of significant events in Israel's history, including the establishment of David's kingdom and the building of Solomon's temple. The mention of Zion in this verse highlights the importance of Jerusalem as the heart of Israel's religious life and the place where God's glory is most fully revealed. to You our vows will be fulfilled
The word "vows" comes from the Hebrew "נֶדֶר" (neder), which refers to promises or commitments made to God, often in the context of seeking His favor or expressing gratitude for His blessings. In ancient Israel, fulfilling vows was a serious obligation, reflecting one's faithfulness and devotion to God. The phrase "will be fulfilled" indicates a future action, suggesting a continuous commitment to honoring God with one's promises. This part of the verse emphasizes the importance of integrity and faithfulness in the believer's relationship with God, as well as the communal aspect of worship, where vows made by individuals are fulfilled in the context of the community's praise and worship. Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe central figure of the Psalm, the one to whom praise is directed. He is depicted as the recipient of worship and the fulfiller of vows. 2. ZionA significant place in biblical history, often representing the city of Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God, and a symbol of His presence among His people. 3. PsalmistTraditionally attributed to David, the psalmist is the one expressing the praise and commitment to God. 4. VowsThese are promises or commitments made to God, often in response to His faithfulness or deliverance. 5. PraiseThe act of worship and adoration directed towards God, acknowledging His greatness and goodness. Teaching Points The Centrality of PraisePraise is not just an action but a state of readiness and anticipation. Our lives should be oriented towards glorifying God. The Significance of ZionZion represents God's presence and His chosen place of worship. In a spiritual sense, believers are called to be a living Zion, where God's presence dwells. The Importance of VowsMaking and fulfilling vows to God is a serious commitment. It reflects our trust in His faithfulness and our dedication to His purposes. Worship as a CommunityPraise and the fulfillment of vows are often communal activities, reminding us of the importance of gathering with other believers to worship God. Living a Life of WorshipOur daily lives should reflect the praise and commitment we express in worship. Every action can be an act of worship when done for God's glory. Bible Study Questions 1. What does it mean for praise to "await" God, and how can we cultivate a life that is always ready to praise Him? 2. How does the concept of Zion as God's dwelling place influence our understanding of the church today? 3. In what ways can we fulfill our vows to God in our daily lives, and why is this important? 4. How can we encourage and participate in communal worship and the fulfillment of vows within our church community? 5. Reflect on a time when you made a vow or commitment to God. How did fulfilling that vow impact your relationship with Him? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 22:25This verse also speaks of fulfilling vows in the presence of those who fear God, highlighting the communal aspect of worship and commitment. Isaiah 2:3Refers to Zion as a place where God's law and word go forth, connecting the idea of Zion as a center of divine revelation and worship. Romans 12:1Encourages believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices, which can be seen as a form of fulfilling vows to God through a life of worship and obedience. People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Awaits, Chief, Choirmaster, Completed, David, Due, Fulfilled, Gt, Leader, Lt, Music, Musician, Music-maker, O, Offering, Overseer, Performed, Praise, Psalm, Silence, Sion, Song, Vow, Vows, Waiteth, Waits, ZionDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 65:1 5741 vows Psalm 65: 5420 music
7963 song Psalm 65:1-5 8609 prayer, as praise and thanksgiving Library Sin Overcoming and Overcome
'Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away.'--PSALM. lxv. 3. There is an intended contrast in these two clauses more pointed and emphatic in the original than in our Bible, between man's impotence and God's power in the face of the fact of sin. The words of the first clause might be translated, with perhaps a little increase of vividness, 'iniquities are too strong for me'; and the 'Thou' of the next clause is emphatically expressed in the original, 'as …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScripturePraises and Vows Accepted in Zion
In fulfillment of this ancient type, we also "have an altar whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle." Into our spiritual worship, no observers of materialistic ritualism may intrude; they have no right to eat at our spiritual altar, and there is no other at which they can eat and live for ever. There is but one altar Jesus Christ our Lord. All other altars are impostures and idolatrous inventions. Whether of stone, or wood, or brass, they are the toys with which those amuse themselves …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871 Daily Bread.
(Harvest Thanksgiving.) PSALM lxv. 9. "Thou preparest them corn." "Come, ye thankful people, come," and let us thank God for another harvest. Once more the Father, the Feeder, has given bread to strengthen man's heart, and we turn from the corn stored in the garner, to God's own garner the Church, where He has stored up food for our souls. And first of all, my brothers, let us be honest with ourselves. Are we quite sure that we are thankful to God for the harvest? We have decorated God's House …
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2 Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving
"Dr. A. J. Gordon describes the impression made upon his mind by intercourse with Joseph Rabinowitz, whom Dr. Delitzsch considered the most remarkable Jewish convert since Saul of Tarsus: We shall not soon forget the radiance that would come into his face as he expounded the Messianic psalms at our morning or evening worship, and how, as here and there he caught a glimpse of the suffering or glorified Christ, he would suddenly lift his hands and his eyes to heaven in a burst of adoration, exclaiming …
Edward M. Bounds—The Essentials of Prayer Aron, Brother of Moses, 486, 487.
Abba, same as Father, [3]381; St. Paul uses both words, [4]532. Abel, [5]31, [6]252, [7]268, [8]450. Abimelech, [9]72, [10]197. Abraham, seed of, faithful Christians also, [11]148, [12]149, [13]627; servant's hand under his thigh, [14]149, [15]334; poor in midst of riches, [16]410. Absalom, David's son, [17]4, [18]5; type of Judas the traitor, [19]4, [20]20. Absolution granted by the Church, [21]500. Abyss, or deep, of God's judgments, [22]88; of man's heart, [23]136. Accuser, the devil the great, …
St. Augustine—Exposition on the Book of Psalms "O Thou, that Hearest Prayer!" --Ps. Lxv. 2
"O Thou, that hearest Prayer!"--Ps. lxv. 2. Thou, God, art a consuming fire, Yet mortals may find grace, From toil and tumult to retire, And meet Thee face to face. Though "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord!" Seraph to seraph sings, And angel-choirs, with one accord, Worship, with veiling wings;-- Though earth Thy footstool, heaven Thy throne, Thy way amidst the sea, Thy path deep floods, Thy steps unknown, Thy counsels mystery:-- Yet wilt Thou look on him who lies A suppliant at Thy feet; And hearken to …
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns Question of the Active Life
I. Do all Acts of the Moral Virtues come under the Active Life? II. Does Prudence pertain to the Active Life? III. Does Teaching belong to the Active or to the Contemplative Life? IV. Does the Active Life continue after this Life? I Do all Acts of the Moral Virtues come under the Active Life? S. Isidore says[407]: "In the active life all the vices are first of all to be removed by the practice of good works, so that in the contemplative life a man may, with now purified mental gaze, pass to the …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life But in Order that we Fall not Away from Continence...
10. But in order that we fall not away from Continence, we ought to watch specially against those snares of the suggestions of the devil, that we presume not of our own strength. For, "Cursed is every one that setteth his hope in man." [1838] And who is he, but man? We cannot therefore truly say that he setteth not his hope in man, who setteth it in himself. For this also, to "live after man," what is it but to "live after the flesh?" Whoso therefore is tempted by such a suggestion, let him hear, …
St. Augustine—On Continence If, Therefore, You had not as yet Vowed unto God Widowed Continence...
23. If, therefore, you had not as yet vowed unto God widowed continence, we would assuredly exhort you to vow it; but, in that you have already vowed it, we exhort you to persevere. And yet I see that I must so speak as to lead those also who had as yet thought of marriage to love it and to seize on it. Therefore let us give ear unto the Apostle, "She who is unmarried," saith he, "is careful about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit; but she who is married is careful about …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Widowhood. Prayer
But I give myself unto prayer.' Psa 109: 4. I shall not here expatiate upon prayer, as it will be considered more fully in the Lord's prayer. It is one thing to pray, and another thing to be given to prayer: he who prays frequently, is said to be given to prayer; as he who often distributes alms, is said to be given to charity. Prayer is a glorious ordinance, it is the soul's trading with heaven. God comes down to us by his Spirit, and we go up to him by prayer. What is prayer? It is an offering …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Malachy's Pity for his Deceased Sister. He Restores the Monastery of Bangor. His First Miracles.
11. (6). Meanwhile Malachy's sister, whom we mentioned before,[271] died: and we must not pass over the visions which he saw about her. For the saint indeed abhorred her carnal life, and with such intensity that he vowed he would never see her alive in the flesh. But now that her flesh was destroyed his vow was also destroyed, and he began to see in spirit her whom in the body he would not see. One night he heard in a dream the voice of one saying to him that his sister was standing outside in the …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."--Psalm xxxiv. 8. You see by these words what love Almighty God has towards us, and what claims He has upon our love. He is the Most High, and All-Holy. He inhabiteth eternity: we are but worms compared with Him. He would not be less happy though He had never created us; He would not be less happy though we were all blotted out again from creation. But He is the God of love; He brought us all into existence, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII The Sovereignty of God in Operation
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be the glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36). Has God foreordained everything that comes to pass? Has He decreed that what is, was to have been? In the final analysis this is only another way of asking, Is God now governing the world and everyone and everything in it? If God is governing the world then is He governing it according to a definite purpose, or aimlessly and at random? If He is governing it according to some purpose, then …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 65:1 NIVPsalm 65:1 NLTPsalm 65:1 ESVPsalm 65:1 NASBPsalm 65:1 KJV
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