Psalms 66:5

GOD'S MIGHTY DEEDS OF THE PAST RECALLED

"Come and see the works of God;

He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

He turned the sea into dry land;

They went through the river on foot:

There did we rejoice in him,

He ruleth by his might forever;

His eyes observe the nations:

Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.

(Selah)"

"He turned the sea into dry land" (Psalms 66:6). This is a reference to the passage of Israel though the Red Sea on dry land and the subsequent drowning of the army of Pharaoh in the same sea.

"They went through the river on foot" (Psalms 66:6). They not only did that, the children of Israel went over the Jordan on foot when the river was at flood stage! "It is noteworthy that throughout the Psalms no other historical event is viewed with as much awe and wonder as the Exodus crossing of the Red Sea. There are no less that eight of the Psalms that speak of it, Psalms 18; Psalms 66; Psalms 74; Psalms 77; Psalms 78; Psalms 89; Psalms 106, and Psalms 136."[9]

"Come, and see the works of God" (Psalms 66:5). Now the people who received this psalm could by no stretch of imagination "come and see" the mighty works of God mentioned in the same breath, namely, the crossing of the Red Sea and the crossing of Jordan. Then, what was it that the psalmist here invited the people to "Come, and see?" One possibility is that the nations were to come and look at the dead army of Sennacherib. There may have been some other mighty work of God just as wonderful as that; but it could have been that very thing.

"His eyes observe the nations ... let not the rebellious exalt themselves" (Psalms 66:7). Delitzsch gave the meaning here as follows: "God's eyes keep searching watch among the peoples; the rebellious who struggle against God's yoke and persecute God's people, had better not rise against Him. It will go with them if they do."[10]