A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] at sacred-texts.com
Psalms Chapter 66
The writer invites all men to unite in praise, cites some striking occasions for it, promises special acts of thanksgiving, and celebrates God's great mercy. (Psa. 66:1-20)
Make . . . noise--or, "Shout."
his name--as in Psa 29:2.
make his praise glorious--literally, "place honor, His praise," or, "as to His praise"; that is, let His praise be such as will glorify Him, or, be honorable to Him.
A specimen of the praise.
How terrible--(Compare Psa 65:8).
submit--(Compare Margin), show a forced subjection (Psa 18:44), produced by terror.
The terrible works illustrated in Israel's history (Exo 14:21). By this example let rebels be admonished.
behold the nations--watch their conduct.
Here is, perhaps, cited a case of recent deliverance.
holdeth . . . in life--literally, "putteth our soul in life"; that is, out of danger (Psa 30:3; Psa 49:15).
to be moved--(Compare Psa 10:6; Psa 55:22).
Out of severe trials, God had brought them to safety (compare Isa 48:10; Pe1 1:7).
affliction--literally, "pressure," or, as in Psa 55:3, "oppression," which, laid on the
loins--the seat of strength (Deu 33:11), enfeebles the frame.
men to ride over our heads--made us to pass.
through fire, &c.--figures describing prostration and critical dangers (compare Isa 43:2; Eze 36:12).
wealthy--literally, "overflowing," or, "irrigated," and hence fertile.
These full and varied offerings constitute the payment of vows (Lev 22:18-23).
I will offer--literally, "make to ascend," alluding to the smoke of burnt offering, which explains the use of "incense."
incense--elsewhere always denoting the fumes of aromatics.
With these he unites his public thanks, inviting those who fear God (Psa 60:4; Psa 61:5, His true worshippers) to hear. He vindicates his sincerity, inasmuch as God would not hear hypocrites, but had heard him.
he was extolled with my tongue--literally, "exaltation (was) under my tongue," as a place of deposit, whence it proceeded; that is, honoring God was habitual.
If I regard iniquity in my heart--literally, "see iniquity with pleasure."