Psalms 66:1

ยถ To the chief Musician, A Song [or] Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

To the chief Musician {H5329}{H8764)}, A Song {H7892} or Psalm {H4210}. Make a joyful noise {H7321}{H8685)} unto God {H430}, all ye lands {H776}:

For the leader. A song. A psalm: Shout to God, all the earth!

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!

Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth:

Commentary

Context

Psalm 66 opens with a majestic call to worship, setting the tone for a psalm of thanksgiving and praise. While the specific historical context for this psalm is not explicitly stated, it is generally understood to be a communal psalm, possibly celebrating a significant national deliverance or reflecting on God's mighty acts throughout Israel's history, such as the Exodus. The superscription, "To the chief Musician, A Song [or] Psalm," indicates its intended use in public worship and its musical nature, highlighting its role in the liturgical life of ancient Israel.

Key Themes

  • Universal Call to Worship: The most striking theme in Psalm 66:1 is the expansive invitation to praise God. "All ye lands" extends the command beyond Israel to every nation and people group, emphasizing God's universal sovereignty and the global reach of His glory. This foreshadows the New Testament understanding of God's salvation being offered to all humanity.
  • Enthusiastic and Uninhibited Praise: The phrase "Make a joyful noise" conveys a sense of fervent, unreserved, and celebratory worship. It suggests that praise to God should not be timid or quiet, but rather a robust and exuberant expression of adoration and gratitude. This call to boisterous praise is echoed in other psalms, such as Psalm 100:1.
  • God's Worthiness of Praise: The command to worship is implicitly rooted in God's character and His awesome deeds, which are elaborated upon in subsequent verses of Psalm 66 (e.g., Psalm 66:3 speaks of His terrible acts). The very act of making a joyful noise acknowledges His supreme power and goodness.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "make a joyful noise" comes from the verb rua (ืจื•ึผืขึท). This word signifies more than just a pleasant sound; it often means to shout, to raise a war-cry, to cheer, or to make a loud sound of triumph or acclamation. It suggests a powerful, exultant, and unreserved expression of praise, akin to a shout of victory or a roar of applause. It is a command for boisterous and unrestrained worship, reflecting the greatness of the God being praised.

The phrase "all ye lands" is from kol ha'arets (ื›ึผึธืœึพื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅ), which literally means "all the earth" or "all the land." In this context, it clearly refers to all the peoples, nations, or inhabitants of the world, emphasizing the universal and inclusive scope of God's rightful praise.

Practical Application

Psalm 66:1 serves as a timeless invitation for believers today to engage in passionate worship. It encourages us to:

  1. Worship with Enthusiasm: Our praise to God should be heartfelt and expressed with genuine joy and energy, reflecting the depth of our gratitude for His mighty works and character.
  2. Embrace a Global Perspective: This verse reminds us that God is the God of all nations, and His desire is for all peoples to know and worship Him. It encourages us to support and participate in efforts to share the Gospel worldwide, so that every land can indeed make a joyful noise to God.
  3. Recognize God's Sovereignty: The call to praise is a recognition of God's supreme authority and power over all creation. Our worship is a declaration that He alone is worthy of all honor and glory.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 16:23

    Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

  • 1 Chronicles 16:24

    Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.

  • Psalms 100:1

    ยถ A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

  • Psalms 98:4

    ยถ Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

  • Psalms 81:1

    ยถ To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

  • Psalms 150:6

    Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

  • 1 Chronicles 15:28

    Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
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