EXPOSITION
THIS is another song of thanksgiving, and is connected with a special deliverance (Psalms 66:10-12). The composer is about to offer a sacrifice to God in his holy place, in performance of a vow which he had made when he was in trouble (Psalms 66:13-15), and has prepared the psalm as a liturgical formula to be used on the occasion. It is an ode in four strophes: an opening one of four verses—a simple rendering of praise (Psalms 66:1-4); then a short strophe of three verses, celebrating God's might against his enemies (Psalms 66:5-7); next a statement in general terms of the deliverance experienced, and a description of the sacrifices to be offered for it (Psalms 66:8-15); and finally an address to the people, calling on them to "hearken"—together with a protestation of sincerity, and an appeal to God as witnessing to it (Psalms 66:16-20). The psalm, not being ascribed to David in the "title," and having no especial traces of his manner, is generally assigned to a later Judaean king, as Ass, Jehoshaphat, or Hezekiah.