Psalm 66 (65):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Behold, those who are obstinate have been abandoned, and a judgment has been rendered against them: some have found redemption, while others still cling to their pride. Let none of you who take pride in the Gentiles be daunted by the grace of the Gospel: the Seed of Abraham has come, in whom all nations find blessing. (Gen. 12:3) Bless the One through whom you are blessed. Praise our God, O nations, and listen to the sound of His adoration. Do not celebrate yourselves, but exalt Him. What then is the sound of His adoration? That, through His Grace, we are deemed good, regardless of who we are. Who has revived my spirit.

Praise God, all nations. Even more, all of you united as one, worship and stand in awe of Him.

Listen and declare Simmah's message: let it be known. The Jewish people persist in urging the Gentiles to abandon their ancestral ways, to exalt their God, and to demonstrate His might to those who do not understand. The Prophet conveyed this in the call to "make it heard," which signifies the need to instruct others as well.

You, who are regarded by the Lord, praise God and raise your voices high, declaring His glory with great strength, so that your children may also hear Him.

In the opening verse, he calls upon all nations to exalt God universally, while in the subsequent verse, he highlights a particular grace bestowed upon the Jewish church. Firstly, he points out that even the Gentiles once shared in the divine blessings that the chosen people had experienced by God’s grace at that time. Secondly, he acknowledges that this grace of God was remarkable and noteworthy, desiring that its fame be known far and wide. This is to illustrate that God will not only bring judgment upon the unrighteous who scorn His majesty, but He is also willing to chastise His own chosen ones when they offend grievously, as was the case with the people of Judah.

Ultimately, in the eternal hymn of glorification of God, in anticipation of the future resurrection of the faithful, David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, authored this psalm. Within its verses, he conveys prophetic gratitude to God on behalf of those who have returned from the Babylonian exile, symbolizing demonic oppression, and offers thanksgiving for the realization of the blessedness promised to all believers following the resolution of their earthly tribulations. This is all in preparation for the resurrection of the faithful, which is to be actualized in various ways and culminate at the end of time during the general resurrection. Praise is directed to Christ’s humanity, while glory is ascribed to His divinity, both being exalted. The term "all the earth" denotes all nations. Just as the Jews were liberated from their Babylonian bondage, so too has humanity been redeemed through the Incarnation of God and the Savior, freeing them from the torments of the evil one.