Shout to God, All the Earth
Study note
The whole earth is called to make a joyful noise to God and sing the glory of his name. Come and see what God has done — he turned the sea into dry land.
1 Let the whole earth shout joyfully to God! Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
2 Sing about the glory of his name. Make your praise for him truly magnificent. Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
3 Say to God, "The things you do are stunning! Your power is so great that your enemies cringe before you." Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
4 "The whole earth will kneel before you and sing to you. They will sing praise to your name." Selah. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
5 Come and take a look at what God has done — the incredible things he has accomplished for people. Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry ground. People walked across the river on foot. There, we celebrated because of him. He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
7 He rules forever by his power. His eyes are always watching the nations. Those who rebel had better not try to lift themselves up. Selah. He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
God Tested Us
Study note
The people praise God who kept them alive. He tested them like silver is refined. He let them go through fire and water but brought them to a place of abundance.
8 Praise our God, all you peoples! Let the sound of his praise ring out for everyone to hear. O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9 He keeps us alive and does not let our feet stumble. Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 God, you put us through the fire to test us. You refined us the way silver is refined. For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11 You led us into a trap. You strapped a crushing load onto our backs. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 You let people trample right over us. We went through fire and through flood. But then you brought us out into a place where we had more than enough. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
Personal Praise
Study note
The psalmist brings offerings to fulfill his vows. He testifies that God heard his prayer. If he had held on to sin, the Lord would not have listened. Blessed be God who did not reject his prayer.
13 I will walk into your house carrying burnt offerings. I will keep every promise I made to you — I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
14 the promises that poured from my lips, the words my mouth spoke when I was deep in trouble. Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
15 I will bring you the finest fattened animals as offerings, with the rich smoke of rams rising up. I will offer bulls and goats. Selah. I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.
16 Come gather around and listen, everyone who honors God, and I will tell you what he did for me. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17 I opened my mouth and cried out to him, and words of praise were already on my tongue. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I had been holding on to sin deep in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
19 But God did listen. He gave his full attention to the voice of my prayer. But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Praise God! He did not turn away from my prayer. He did not pull back his loyal love from me. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.