Daily Devotional Podcasts

499_I will bless the Lord at all times Psalm 66 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah 5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. 6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, 7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah 8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. 10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. A missionary was imprisoned for his faith in a foreign land. Every morning, despite the cold cell, the thin gruel, and the loneliness, he worshipped God in songs of praise. Baffled, one of the guards asked him, “Why are you singing? You’re in prison. You’re alone. No one hears you.” The missionary simply replied, “God hears. As long as I have breath, I will praise Him.” That kind of praise is not based on feelings or circumstances. It’s a way of life. Psalm 66 reflects this praise. It’s not the kind that comes and goes depending on whether we’re having a good day, but that wells up from a heart secure in the knowledge of God’s greatness, which is the theme of this song. His greatness consists of his righteousness, justice, and kindness - the things in which he delights. Psalm 66 is a magnificent psalm that calls all the earth to praise God. The psalmist knows that God is much greater than a merely tribal or regional deity. He is the Lord of all creation, the sovereign over every being and every element in nature. No resistance is possible, none is justified. He invites everyone—everything—to make a joyful noise to God. God is not just the God of humans but the God of all creation. The universe itself praises Him—not only in words, but through obedience. The sun rises each day without fail, the moon waxes and wanes in perfect rhythm, the stars take their place in the night sky. The sea obeys His voice. The wind stills when He commands it. In the pages of Scripture, we see fish that listen to His instruction, plants that grow or wither at His word, and even worms that fulfill His purpose. All of creation, without hesitation or complaint, yields to the will of