Eliana Chow

Psalm 65 is a praise song of God’s goodness. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of affliction and suffering of all kinds, God is still good and holding all things together. He showers His blessings upon the earth, beckoning us into freedom. He never promises an easy road, but He does promise an eternal inheritance, and that ought to entirely change our outlook on life.

The second half of the song nudges to us to see God’s provision in nature and to give thanks. Three points in particular have served to encourage me through these past few weeks of unexpected schedules, frustration, and some sad nights. To begin, verse 9 reads, “You [God] visit the earth and water it; / you greatly enrich it; / the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, / for so you have prepared it” (emphasis mine). He has already prepared all we will need for any given moment in time. In advance, He anticipates our every need and sets it aside for the right time. It hearkens back to Psalm 23 where David sings, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

Then there’s verse 11, “You crown the year with your bounty, / your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.” Regardless of how wearisome and heavy our year has been, God is still on His throne, leading us in the path He has set before our feet. His blessings, however small they might seem in the moment of pain, infinitely surpass the sorrows in their greatness. It is enough to be known and loved by Him, to receive His grace.

Towards the very end of the psalm, David sings, “The pastures of the wilderness overflow, / the hills gird themselves with joy…” To gird one’s loins was essentially to pin or tie long, flowing garments up around the waist as a means of preparing for action. If the hills naturally ready themselves with joy, how much more ought we to prepare ourselves with joy in the face of any trial that’s to come? Oh to so surround ourselves with the conscious choice towards joy that even though the troubles hurt, they do not keep us down.

This also goes along with verse 5, where the psalmist describes the Lord as “the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might.” The Lord readies Himself with awe-inspiring strength, and us with joy.

In all things He provides, and we receive, giving back to Him in the form of our praise and thanksgiving.