Psalms 65:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

PSALM 65 THE ARGUMENT The design of this Psalm seems to be to declare the great and glorious work of Divine Providence, both towards his church and the land of his people, and towards the rest of mankind. David praiseth God for spiritual blessings, as hearing prayer, and purging away sin, Psalms 65:1-3, and for the blessedness of those that dwell in his courts, Psalms 65:4; and also for temporal blessings, as governing the world, and the abundance of all worldly enjoyments, Psalms 65:5-13. Waiteth, Heb. is silent, or silence, i.e. quietly waits, as this phrase is used also Psalms 62:1. And praise may be here put for the person or persons who use to praise God upon all occasions, and who are now prepared and ready to do so; as deceit is put for a deceitful man, as Proverbs 12:24, and sin for the sinner, Proverbs 13:6, and dreams for dreamers, Jeremiah 27:9. So the meaning may seem to be this, God's people patiently and believingly wait for an opportunity to offer their praises to God; for at present they seem to be in some straits, as divers passages of this Psalm do intimate. In Zion: though all the people of the world have great cause to praise thee, yet none pay thee this tribute, but thy people in Zion; and they indeed have really peculiar and eminent obligations and occasions to perform this duty. Unto thee shall the vow be performed; all the thank-offerings which thy people vowed unto thee in the time of their danger shall be faithfully paid, to wit, in Zion; which is to be repeated out of the first clause of the verse.