Trusting God Through Worship, Submission, and Trials
Summary
Psalm 66 calls us to a threefold response to God: worship, submission, and trust in his deliverance. The psalmist begins by inviting all people to shout for joy and sing the glory of God’s name, recognizing his awesome deeds and unmatched power. Even those who oppose God, in their most desperate moments, are compelled to acknowledge his authority. The psalmist recounts God’s mighty acts in history—parting the Red Sea, leading Israel through the wilderness, and bringing them into a place of abundance. These acts are not just ancient stories, but reminders that God is both able and willing to rescue his people, even when circumstances seem impossible.
The psalm then shifts from a communal call to worship to a deeply personal testimony. The writer describes how God has tested and refined his people, likening their trials to the purification of silver. These hardships are not meant to destroy, but to purify and prepare us for the abundance God intends. The psalmist responds to God’s faithfulness with costly sacrifices, going beyond what is required, as an expression of gratitude and devotion. He testifies that God hears the prayers of those who come to him with a sincere and repentant heart, and that God’s steadfast love never fails.
This psalm also points us to Jesus, who perfectly embodied trust and obedience through his own testing and ultimate sacrifice. Jesus’ death on the cross is the fulfillment of the costly offering described here—not of bulls or goats, but of himself. God did not abandon Jesus, but raised him from the dead, vindicating his faith and revealing the depth of the Father’s love. In Christ, we see the ultimate example of worship, submission, and deliverance.
We are faced with a choice: to joyfully worship and submit to God now, or to be humbled later when all our idols are stripped away. God’s call is not just for a moment, but for a lifetime of repentance, faith, and trust in his goodness. The trials we endure are not wasted; they are the means by which God refines us, preparing us for the eternal abundance of his kingdom. Our hope is anchored in the steadfast love of God, who delivers us from sin and death through Jesus Christ. In every trial, we are invited to trust that God is at work, shaping us for his glory and our ultimate joy.
Key Takeaways
- Worship is a declaration of God’s worth, rooted in both his character and his mighty deeds. True worship is not just an emotional response, but a conscious recognition of God’s greatness and goodness, even when circumstances are difficult. It is an act of assigning ultimate value to God above all else, shaping our hearts and lives around his glory. [25:11]
- Submission to God is not a loss, but a gain, because his commands flow from his perfect goodness and his power is unmatched. To resist God is to claim that our understanding and strength surpass his, which is both futile and self-destructive. Submission is an act of trust, believing that God’s ways are better than our own, and that his authority is exercised for our good. [29:18]
- Trials and suffering are not evidence of God’s absence, but of his refining work in our lives. Like silver purified by fire, we are shaped and prepared through hardship for the abundance God has promised. These seasons of testing strip away our idols and deepen our dependence on God, producing a faith that is steadfast and genuine. [32:01]
- The ultimate sacrifice is not what we bring, but what Christ has given for us. Jesus’ obedience, suffering, and resurrection fulfill the psalmist’s vision of costly offering and answered prayer. In him, we see that God’s love is unwavering and his deliverance is complete, inviting us to trust not in our own efforts, but in the finished work of Christ. [39:26]
- Deliverance is not merely escape from trouble, but transformation through it. God’s salvation in Christ does not promise a life free from pain, but a life in which every trial is repurposed for our good and his glory. Our hope is not in the absence of suffering, but in the presence of a God who brings us through fire and water into eternal abundance. [51:44]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[21:54] - Introduction to Psalm 66
[22:54] - Reading the Psalm: A Call to Worship
[24:19] - Corporate and Individual Worship
[25:11] - The Nature of Worship and God’s Deeds
[26:07] - God’s Power Recognized by All
[27:47] - Remembering God’s Deliverance in History
[29:18] - The Call to Submission and Its Reason
[31:12] - God’s Refining Work Through Trials
[32:01] - Israel’s Wilderness and the Purpose of Testing
[34:15] - Trials as Refinement, Not Destruction
[35:32] - Costly Sacrifice and Personal Testimony
[39:26] - Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Psalm
[41:38] - Reading Psalm 66 with Christ in Mind
[44:53] - The Choice: Joyful Worship or Reluctant Submission
[46:38] - Repentance and Faith as a Way of Life
[48:46] - The Necessity of Deliverance
[51:44] - Trials Prepare Us for Glory
[54:48] - Encouragement to Persevere
[55:55] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Psalm 66 – Worship, Submission, and Trust in God’s Deliverance
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### Bible Reading
Psalm 66 (ESV)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Psalm 66, what are some of the “awesome deeds” of God that the psalmist calls people to remember and celebrate? ([22:54])
2. How does the psalmist describe the process of being tested and refined by God? What imagery does he use? ([32:01])
3. What is the difference between the communal and personal sections of the psalm? How does the focus shift? ([24:19])
4. According to the sermon, what does the psalmist say about God’s response to those who cherish sin in their hearts? ([35:32])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the psalmist invite “all the earth” to worship God, including even those who are God’s enemies? What does this say about God’s authority and power? ([26:07])
2. The psalmist compares God’s testing to the refining of silver. What does this suggest about the purpose of trials in the life of a believer? ([32:01])
3. The sermon connects the costly sacrifices in the psalm to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. How does seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of this psalm change the way we read it? ([39:26])
4. The psalmist says God “has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.” What does this reveal about God’s character, especially in times of suffering or testing? ([43:02])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says worship is more than an emotional response—it’s a conscious recognition of God’s greatness, even in hard times. What is one practical way you can declare God’s worth this week, especially if your circumstances are difficult? ([25:11])
2. Submission to God is described as an act of trust, not a loss. Is there an area of your life where you are resisting God’s authority or commands? What would it look like to submit in that area, trusting that his ways are for your good? ([29:18])
3. The psalmist talks about costly sacrifices as a response to God’s faithfulness. What is one “costly” step of obedience or generosity you feel God might be inviting you to take right now? ([35:32])
4. The sermon says trials are not evidence of God’s absence, but of his refining work. Can you share about a time when a difficult season led to spiritual growth or a deeper trust in God? How did you see God at work through that trial? ([32:01])
5. The psalmist warns against cherishing sin in our hearts. Is there a specific sin or idol you need to confess and turn from so that your prayers are not hindered? What step can you take this week to address it? ([35:32])
6. The sermon points out that deliverance is not just escape from trouble, but transformation through it. How might God be using your current challenges to shape you for his glory and your ultimate joy? ([51:44])
7. The psalmist’s hope is anchored in God’s steadfast love. When you face discouragement or suffering, what helps you remember and trust in God’s unfailing love? ([43:02])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for his steadfast love, his refining work in our lives, and the ultimate deliverance we have in Jesus. Ask for help to worship, submit, and trust him in every circumstance.
Devotional
Day 1: Worshiping God for His Awesome Deeds
Worship is the act of assigning ultimate worth and value to God, acknowledging His greatness, goodness, and the wonders He has done. The psalmist calls all people to shout for joy, sing the glory of God's name, and give Him glorious praise, recognizing that even God's enemies must ultimately acknowledge His power and authority. True worship flows from seeing and remembering the mighty acts of God—how He has rescued, provided, and revealed Himself throughout history and in our lives. As we gather together, we are invited to join in this chorus of praise, celebrating the God whose deeds are awesome and whose name is above all names. [21:54]
Psalm 66:1-4 (ESV)
Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.”
Reflection: What is one specific way you can intentionally praise God today for something He has done in your life, either privately or with others?
Day 2: Submitting to God’s Goodness and Authority
Submission to God is rooted in the recognition of His unfailing goodness and unmatched power. The psalmist warns against exalting ourselves or rebelling against God, reminding us that God’s commands are fundamentally good and that His authority is absolute. To resist Him is to claim that our understanding or strength surpasses His, which is both futile and prideful. Instead, we are called to trust that what God asks of us is for our good, and to humbly yield our lives to His will, knowing that He watches over both individuals and nations. [29:18]
Psalm 66:5-7 (ESV)
Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations—let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to resist God’s direction, and what would it look like to submit that area to Him today?
Day 3: God Refines Us Through Trials
God uses the trials and hardships of our lives not to destroy us, but to refine and purify us, just as silver is refined by fire. The psalmist recounts how God led His people through crushing burdens and difficult seasons, yet ultimately brought them to a place of abundance. These times of testing are necessary for shaping us into people who trust and obey God more fully, preparing us for the blessings He has in store. Even when the process is painful, we can trust that God is at work, removing impurities and strengthening our faith for His glory and our good. [32:01]
Psalm 66:8-12 (ESV)
Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
Reflection: Think of a current or recent trial—how might God be using this experience to refine your faith or character?
Day 4: Jesus, the Ultimate Sacrifice and Our Deliverer
Jesus perfectly fulfills the psalmist’s testimony, offering Himself as the ultimate, costly sacrifice for our sins. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of bulls and goats, Jesus’ single offering on the cross is sufficient for all time, and God the Father vindicated Him by raising Him from the dead. Through Christ’s obedience, suffering, and resurrection, we see the fullness of God’s steadfast love and the assurance that our prayers are heard. In Jesus, we find the deliverance we need—from sin, from death, and from every trial—because He has gone before us and secured our salvation. [39:26]
Hebrews 10:11-14 (ESV)
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust more deeply in the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s steadfast love for you?
Day 5: Joyful Endurance and Hope in God’s Deliverance
The trials and tribulations we face are not meaningless; they are preparing us for the eternal weight of glory that God has promised. We are called to endure with hope, knowing that God is using every hardship to shape us for His kingdom and to draw us closer to Himself. Our ultimate hope is not just for relief in this life, but for the day when God will bring us into His forever kingdom, where sorrow and death are no more. Until then, we press on, trusting that God will deliver us and that the beauty He brings from our suffering will far outweigh the pain. [54:48]
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can remind yourself today that your present struggles are preparing you for God’s eternal glory?
Quotes
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