So, why do we worship God? Well, I suppose the most obvious reason is His power, the fact that He is “girded with might” (verse 6). After all, God is the One Who piled up the largest of mountains. And as the Son of God proved when just a word from Him calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:39), He is the One Who stills “the roaring of the seas” (verse 7). No, it’s no wonder that people all over the world stand in awe of God (verse 8), keeping silence in His presence (verse 1).

But while such fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), why do we sing His praise (verse 1)? Why do the dawn and the sunset, the meadows and the valleys shout for joy in His presence (verses 8 and 13)? To explain that, we must look beyond God’s power to His providence, to the bountiful blessings He pours out on the world He has made. Living as he did in a semi-arid area, David focuses on the rain God showers on the land, which allows crops to grow (verse 9), and provides pasture for flocks and herds (verse 12). But no matter where we live, and no matter the particular circumstances of our lives, we all have reason to praise God for the beauty and bounty of the natural world around us.

And of course the greatest blessing of all is simply being near to the God Who is so able and willing to help us. David says that it is the one whom God chooses to bring near to Him, the one who is allowed to dwell in the courts of the Lord who is truly blessed. And that’s because it is the goodness of God’s house, the presence of God among His people that is most truly satisfying (verse 4).

So today, let’s join all of God’s creation, standing in awe of His power, singing His praise for His blessings, and enjoying being in His presence. For by the blood of His Son, He has forgiven the transgressions of all who trust in Him (verse 3). What greater reason could any of us have to worship Him?

Psalm 65 (NASB)

For the choir director. A Psalm of David. A Song.
There will be silence before Thee, and praise in Zion, O God; And to Thee the vow will be performed.
2 O Thou who dost hear prayer, To Thee all men come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, Thou dost forgive them.
4 How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near to Thee, To dwell in Thy courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, Thy holy temple.
5 By awesome deeds Thou dost answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, Thou who art the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;
6 Who dost establish the mountains by His strength, Being girded with might;
7 Who dost still the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples.
8 And they who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Thy signs; Thou dost make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.
9 Thou dost visit the earth, and cause it to overflow; Thou dost greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water; Thou dost prepare their grain, for thus Thou dost prepare the earth.
10 Thou dost water its furrows abundantly; Thou dost settle its ridges; Thou dost soften it with showers; Thou dost bless its growth.
11 Thou hast crowned the year with Thy bounty, And Thy paths drip with fatness.
12 The pastures of the wilderness drip, And the hills gird themselves with rejoicing.
13 The meadows are clothed with flocks, And the valleys are covered with grain; They shout for joy, yes, they sing.