Psalm 66:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

NIV: Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.

NASB: Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.

CSB: Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.

NLT: Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.

KJV: Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

NKJV: Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.

When the Lord does something powerful in a believer's life, it's natural for the blessed person to want to share that experience with others. This is what the psalmist does here: inviting the assembled people to listen to his story. In his case, it seems to have involved great trouble and God's gracious response (Psalm 66:13–15).

Though the psalmist's story may be dramatic, that is not the case for all who have been helped by the Lord. And yet, all redeemed children of God have a testimony to share. The apostle Paul told Timothy that Jesus came into the world for the salvation of sinners, and that he considered himself the worst (1 Timothy 1:15). His testimony involved a drastically changed mind and heart.

When Jesus cleansed a distraught man of demons, He told the man to go home and "declare how much God has done for you" (Luke 8:39). The rescued man was so grateful that "he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him" (Luke 8:39).

Sharing our experiences with God's grace doesn't require an action-packed, dramatic story. Nor does the Lord does tell His people to share deep theological wisdom with others. Such things can be helpful, but the simplest and most important cornerstone of witnessing to others is to simply tell others how much God has done for us.

Psalm 66:13–20 addresses God, then the congregation. This comes after calling upon the nations to worship God because of His marvelous deeds on behalf of Israel. The psalmist wants to tell the assembled people that God heard his prayer and answered it. He concludes this section by praising God for answering prayer and extending His loyal love.

This psalm appeals to the entire world to worship the Lord. His great works, such as giving Israel safe passage through the Red Sea, should be praised. Because God watches the world, no one should presume they can rebel without consequences. God tested Israel heavily but brought the nation to an abundant place. The psalmist declares that he will fulfill his vows and offer sacrifices, because God answered his prayer. Verses 1–9 speak to the nations of earth; verses 10–15 are spoken to God; verses 16–20 are addressed to the congregation.

This is a psalm of thanksgiving, but the occasion that prompted it is unknown. It may have been written after the Lord defeated the Assyrians (Isaiah 36—37). Another possibility is that it was recorded following the return from Babylonian captivity (Ezra 1:2–3).

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.