Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble and I'm your host for the Bible Recap. Our first chapter for today, Psalm 65, was probably written as praise for a feast or harvest time.

David starts out by saying praise is due to God in Zion, which as you may recall is another way of referring to

Jerusalem. Since Mount Zion is the highest peak in Jerusalem, the two names are often used

interchangeably. And they're also both used to refer to the nation and the people of Israel as a whole.

I love this Psalm. Every line is so rich and dense. I think there's something really beautiful about the way David

lays out verse 3. It says, when iniquities prevail against me, you atone for

our transgressions. David's iniquities are stronger than his ability to rescue himself.

They prevail against him. He knows he needs God's rescue and he praises God for

making atonement for his the with your bounty. In Psalm 66, David praises God for the ways he triumphs over his enemies and for protecting

his people.

David has a God-honoring view of the trials he has been through, and he's able to praise God even for the hardships.

We see it in verses 10 through 12 especially.

He says, For you, O God, have tested us.

You have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net. You laid a crushing burden on our backs. You let men ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water. yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

David isn't holding a grudge toward God because of what Israel has gone through.

He's not saying, I don't trust you anymore.

Because of the parameters of the Davidic covenant, David knows that Israel's struggles were the result of their own rebellion.

And even though he ascribes those hardships to God, he knows that God did it in response to their

sin.

Despite their tough history, David has his heart set on praise.

And in verse 16, he says,

Come and hear all you who fear God

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