Psalm 65:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

NIV: Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

NASB: Blessed is the one You choose and allow to approach You; He will dwell in Your courtyards. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.

CSB: How happy is the one you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple.

NLT: What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple.

KJV: Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

NKJV: Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.

David remarks on the incredible blessing of being chosen by God. For those who come to saving faith, God is the ultimate reward (Psalm 63:4–5; 107:9). This verse combines literal and symbolic meanings. Those who honor the Lord will find themselves in places associated with worship, such as the temple. They will be in "the courts" of the Lord much as loyal friends of a king might be found in his inner circle. Most important of these blessings is atonement for sin (Psalm 65:1–3).

In religious systems, a "priest" is a specially designated contact between a deity and worshippers. Today, believers have only one go-between to God, and that is Christ, the risen Savior (1 Timothy 2:5). In a sense, God has made all believers "priests," because all who are saved have access to God and all are called to share the truth of the gospel with those who do not yet know God. Addressing believers, the apostle Peter writes: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Revelation 1:5–6 says Jesus loved believers and has freed them from their sins by His blood and made them a kingdom, priests to God. As priests, believers "offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5).

Psalm 65:1–4 affirms that God hears prayers and forgives His people's sins. Whoever seeks to follow God's will experiences blessing. The Lord provides the ultimate satisfaction and the greatest measure of goodness. This is expressed, in part, through worship in places such as the temple.

David begins by anticipating praise to the Lord, expecting that He will bring atonement, fellowship, and blessing. The psalm mentions God's miraculous examples before referring to various natural examples of His provision. These benefits are both visible and available to all people of the world.

Psalms 65—68 express praise to the Lord using frequent references to nature and harvest. Only this and psalm 68 are explicitly credited to David. This song also thanks God for His kindness to His people; it encourages worshipers to offer thanksgiving. The song might have been meant to celebrate an especially abundant harvest.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.