Psalm 66 begins by calling people from all the earth to worship God. A series of imperatives (the voice of a command) are used in verse 66:1-4. These commands are paused for a Selah which is followed by an invitation to everyone to see what God has done and why he should be praised (66:6-9).

In verses 66:10-12 the psalmist reviews the process of testing the people of God underwent as they, not merely waited, but were prepared by the process  of refining that brought them “to a place of abundance.” (66:12) The preparation process of testing and refining was not easy, in fact, its description is harsh. The Hebrew verb translated “test” in 66:10 is also used when describing the refining of metal. This testing is not meant to destroy the person (or, the metal), but to develop the person (or, purify the metal).

The tests (66:10-12) included:

• “prison” which would likely have involved oppression by a government and false accusations.
• “burdens on our backs” which involved harsh physical labor.
• “men ride over our heads” indicating people were one of the sources of the testing.
• “fire and water” are used to identify two opposite extremes which indicated the testing was comprehensive.

The result of God’s process of training, testing, purifying and preparing his people is beautifully summed up in the second half of 66:12:

            “…but you brought us to a place of abundance.”

Examples of God using this process to refine his people for greatness is also seen in these verses:

• Deuteronomy 8:2-5
• Psalm 11:5
• Psalm 26:2 - "test" me, examine heart and mind
• Psalm 139:23 - "test" me
• Jeremiah 9:7 - "test" people because of sin
• Jeremiah 11:20 - "test" heart and mind
• Jeremiah 12:3 - "test" thoughts
• Jeremiah 17:10
• Jeremiah 20:12
• Ezekiel 22:17-22
• Zechariah 13:9
• Malachi 3:2-3

Psalm 66:13-15 indicates that while these people were in the midst of the testing they sought God and made vows to honor him when their testing was finished.

“I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you – vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.”

In 66:16 the psalmist begins to testify to other people about what God has done. The writers experience in testing and in deliverance into abundance is proclaimed and accompanied with teaching that clarifies these practices while in testing:

1. Cried out to God in prayer (66:17, 18, 19)
2. Praised God (66:17)
3. Rejected sin (66:18)

"Those, therefore, who delivered up their souls to death for Christ’s Gospel — how could they have spoken to men in agreement with already established opinions? If this had been the course they adopted, they would not have suffered. But since they did preach things contrary to those people who did not assent to the truth, for that reason they suffered. It is evident, therefore, that they did not relinquish the truth, but with all boldness preached to the
Jews and Greeks."
- Irenaeus, 185 AD