Psalms 66:17
“I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.”
Context of the Psalm:Psalm 66 is a psalm of thanksgiving and praise, attributed to David. It begins with a call to the whole earth to sing praises to God, acknowledging His awesome deeds and His sovereignty over all nations. The psalmist recounts the acts of God in delivering His people and expresses a desire to offer sacrifices and fulfill vows to God.
Calling out to God:In verse 17, the psalmist expresses a personal experience of crying out to God. This verse highlights the psalmist’s action of seeking God’s help and intervention in a specific situation. It signifies the psalmist’s reliance on God and his acknowledgment of God’s ability to answer prayers.
The power of spoken words:The psalmist declares that he cried out to God “with my mouth.” This indicates the psalmist’s active and vocal expression of his plea. It highlights the significance of verbalizing our prayers and concerns to God. Speaking our thoughts and emotions to God through prayer allows us to communicate with Him and strengthens our relationship with Him.
Extolling God with the tongue:The second part of the verse states, “and he was extolled with my tongue.” The word “extolled” means to praise highly or exalt. Here, the psalmist acknowledges that his mouth was not only used to cry out to God in times of distress but also to praise and exalt God. It reveals the psalmist’s gratitude and recognition of God’s goodness and faithfulness.
- Lessons for us:
- Persistence in prayer:The psalmist’s cry to God implies persistence and a continual seeking of God’s help. We should be encouraged to bring our concerns, needs, and praises before God persistently, knowing that He hears and responds to our prayers in His perfect timing.
- Verbalizing our prayers:This verse reminds us of the importance of verbalizing our prayers to God. While God knows our thoughts and innermost desires, expressing them verbally demonstrates our faith, trust, and dependence on Him. It strengthens our connection with God and helps us focus our hearts and minds on Him.
- Praising and exalting God:The psalmist’s example encourages us to not only cry out to God in times of need but also to praise and exalt Him. Our tongues should be used to give thanks, worship, and honor to God for His goodness, faithfulness, and mighty works in our lives.
