Psalm 65:1-4

Psalm 65 is a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving and praise to Yahweh for the ways he blesses all humankind. It is a community prayer, as the recurrence of the first person plural pronouns "we," "our," and "us" make clear (verses 3, 4, 5). As in all true worship, the focus of this psalm is on Yahweh, as the repetition of "you" shows ("you" appears in every verse, sometimes more than once, except verses 12 and 13). The first paragraph of this psalm (verses 1-4) praises Yahweh for answering prayers of all human beings:

"Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose
and bring near to live in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
your holy temple."

1. There is a very real sense in which Yahweh dwells in "Zion," in his "courts," his "house," his "holy temple" (see Psalms 76:2; 78:68; 84:1-4; 132:13-14). There is also a very real sense in which Yahweh dwells in heaven (see 1 Kings 8:27-30; Psalms 14:2; 53:2). These are feeble human attempts to express a concept far beyond human comprehension.
2. One reason to praise God is that he answers prayer (verse 2). See Matthew 7:7-11; 1 John 5:14-15. Verse 3 indicates that this includes God answering prayers of sinful people that he forgive them. The Bible consistently reveals God as one who is ready and willing to forgive the sins of all human beings. See especially Psalms 103:8-14; 130:3-4.
3. When we ask God for help, it is important that we promise him that we will serve him faithfully--we make "vows" to him; and we must honor those vows (verse 1; see Psalms 22:25; 61:8; 66:13; 116:12-14), which often consists of thanksgiving offerings (see Psalm 116:17-18).
4. Yahweh is not the God of his chosen people Israel or the church alone; he is the God of "all flesh" (verses 2, 5, 8). Yahweh created all that is; and he sustains and cares for his entire creation, which, of course, includes all human beings. He is indeed the universal God.
5. Yahweh is a gracious host, who invites all people to live in his house and to eat at his banqueting table (verse 4). See Psalms 22:26; 23:5-6; 36:8; 63:5; Matthew 26:26-29.
Praise God because he hears and answers the prayers of all human beings.

John Willis