Psalm 65

For the leader. A psalm of David. A song. To you we owe our hymn of praise, O God on Zion; to you our vows must be fulfilled, you who hear our prayers. To you all flesh must come with its burden of wicked deeds. We are overcome by our sins; only you can pardon them. Blessed the one whom you will choose and bring to dwell in your courts. May we be filled with the good things of your house, your holy temple!

You answer us with awesome deeds of justice, O God our savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of those far off across the sea. You are robed in power, you set up the mountains by your might. You [humble] still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves (emphasis added), the tumult of the peoples.

Distant peoples stand in awe of your marvels; the places of morning and evening you make resound with joy. You visit the earth and water it, make it abundantly fertile. God’s stream is filled with water; you supply their grain. Thus, do you prepare it: you drench its plowed furrows, and level its ridges. With showers you keep it soft, blessing its young sprouts. 

You adorn the year with your bounty; your paths drip with fruitful rain. The meadows of the wilderness also drip; the hills are robed with joy. The pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys blanketed with grain; they cheer and sing for joy. (Psalm 65:1-14)  

This psalm is about God.  It’s optimistic and hopeful.  Many of us are in tumult this time of year.  We pray God will still the roaring of the seas and waves within us – seas and waves that toss us about and make us fearful.

Deacon David Pierce