[4] Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
Approach — To draw near to God in his house and ordinance, by prayer and praise, and other acts of communion with him.
Satisfied — With the blessings there conferred upon thy people, the favour and fellowship of God, remission of sins, renovation of heart and life, joy and peace, and well-grounded assurance of eternal life.
Verse 5
[5] By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
Righteousness — By virtue of thy faithfulness, and goodness.
The confidence — Thou art the stay and support of all mankind, by thy powerful and gracious providence.
Verse 7
[7] Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
Tumult — No less wild and impetuous.
Verse 8
[8] They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
Thy tokens — Terrible thunders and lightnings, and earthquakes, and comets or other strange meteors, or works of God in the air.
Morning — The successive courses of the morning and evening; or of the sun and moon which go forth at those times. Thus the whole verse speaks of the natural works of God, the former clause, of such as are extraordinary and terrible, the latter of such as are ordinary and delightful.
Verse 9
[9] Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
River — With rain, which he very significantly calls a river for its plenty, and the river of God, of God's immediate providing.
Them — The inhabitants of the earth.
Provided — Or, disposed, the earth, which without this would be hard and barren.
Verse 10
[10] Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
Bringest down — For the rain dissolves the high and hard clods of earth.
Verse 12
[12] They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
Wilderness — Which though neglected by men, are furnished with food for beasts.
Verse 13
[13] The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Sing — They are abundantly satisfied with thy goodness, and in their manner sing forth the praise of their benefactor.
Psalm 65 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 4
[4] Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
Approach — To draw near to God in his house and ordinance, by prayer and praise, and other acts of communion with him.
Satisfied — With the blessings there conferred upon thy people, the favour and fellowship of God, remission of sins, renovation of heart and life, joy and peace, and well-grounded assurance of eternal life.
Verse 5
[5] By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
Righteousness — By virtue of thy faithfulness, and goodness.
Wilt thou — Thou wilt graciously answer our prayers.
The confidence — Thou art the stay and support of all mankind, by thy powerful and gracious providence.
Verse 7
[7] Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
Tumult — No less wild and impetuous.
Verse 8
[8] They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
Thy tokens — Terrible thunders and lightnings, and earthquakes, and comets or other strange meteors, or works of God in the air.
Morning — The successive courses of the morning and evening; or of the sun and moon which go forth at those times. Thus the whole verse speaks of the natural works of God, the former clause, of such as are extraordinary and terrible, the latter of such as are ordinary and delightful.
Verse 9
[9] Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
River — With rain, which he very significantly calls a river for its plenty, and the river of God, of God's immediate providing.
Them — The inhabitants of the earth.
Provided — Or, disposed, the earth, which without this would be hard and barren.
Verse 10
[10] Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
Bringest down — For the rain dissolves the high and hard clods of earth.
Verse 12
[12] They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
Wilderness — Which though neglected by men, are furnished with food for beasts.
Verse 13
[13] The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Sing — They are abundantly satisfied with thy goodness, and in their manner sing forth the praise of their benefactor.