Toni’s Title
Come and See What God Has Done
ESV Title
How Awesome Are Your Deeds
Literary Type
Verses 1-12 are a hymn; Verses 13-20 are an individual song of thanksgiving.
Hymns
Hymns extol the glory and greatness of God as it is revealed in nature and history, and particularly in Israels’s history. Hymns praise God in general terms for his power and faithfulness as creator of the cosmos, ruler of history, and creator/redeemer of Israel to bring blessing to all the world. Israel’s hymns stress God’s active involvement in the life story of Israel. Hymns typically demonstrate motives for worshipping and praising God. A clear example is Psalm 117, the shortest psalm, just two verses:
1 O praise the Lord, all you nations; *
praise him, all you peoples.
2 For (= Hebrew ki) great is his loving-kindness towards us, *
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
Praise the Lord.
Hymns were used for exuberant worship in the temple and the synagogue. The people of God before the Incarnation invite us to celebrate and praise with them in hope of the kingdom of God and his Messiah. Hymns, like all psalms, show Christians how to praise God who has acted in creation, in revelation, and in redemption, and who is acting decisively in establishing his kingdom on earth. They do not ask anything; they simply rejoice in God’s presence.
Examples: Psalms 8, 19:1-6, 33, 66:1-12, 100, 103, 104, 145-150, and others
Psalms of Thanksgiving
These psalms/songs praise God in response to an event of deliverance already experienced. They are songs sung by people who, after a time of waiting, have experienced the goodness of God in the everyday world. These songs come from ordinary individuals, the king (royal), or the believing community.
Examples: Psalms 30, 32, 34, 65, 67, 92, 107, 116, 124, 138 and others
NT Prayer Guide
Heb. 12:3-11
Note that the verse numbering in the New Coverdale version below differs from the ESV.
Superscription
To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.
66
Jubilate Deo
1 Be joyful in God, all you lands; *
sing praises to the honor of his Name; make his praise to be glorious.
2 Say to God, “How wonderful are your works; *
through the greatness of your power shall your enemies cower before you.
3 For all the world shall worship you, *
sing to you, and praise your Name.”
4 O come and see the works of God, *
how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
5 He turned the sea into dry land, so that they went through the water on foot; *
therefore in him let us rejoice.
6 He rules with his power for ever; his eyes keep watch over the nations; *
let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
7 Bless our God, you peoples, *
and make the voice of his praise to be heard,
8 Who holds our soul in life, *
and does not allow our feet to slip.
9 For you, O God, have proved us; *
you have tried us, as silver is tried.
10 You brought us into the snare *
and laid trouble upon our backs.
11 You allowed men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and water; *
but you brought us out into a place of plenty.
12 I will go into your house with burnt offerings *
and will pay you my vows,
13 Even those which I promised with my lips *
and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.
14 I will offer you burnt sacrifices of fattened beasts, with the incense of rams; *
I will offer bullocks and goats.
15 Come here and listen, all you who fear God, *
and I will tell you what he has done for me.
16 I called to him with my mouth, *
and gave him praises with my tongue.
17 If I had inclined toward wickedness with my heart, *
the Lord would not have heard me.
18 But God has heard me *
and considered the voice of my prayer.
19 Blessed be God who has not refused my prayer, *
nor turned his mercy from me.