God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Psalms 67 is a powerful hymn that builds upon the themes presented in Psalms 66. While the previous psalm focuses on praising God for His mighty acts of salvation on behalf of Israel, Psalms 67 broadens the scope, calling all nations to recognize and worship the Lord for His provision and righteous rule. This psalm beautifully interweaves God's blessing on His people with His ultimate desire for all the earth to know Him and experience His salvation. It serves as a reminder that God's blessings are not meant to be hoarded, but rather to be shared so that others may come to know Him.
God's Grace and Blessing (Psalms 67:1-2)
The psalm opens with a prayer for God's grace and blessing upon His people: "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us—" (Psalms 67:1). This blessing echoes the priestly blessing given by God to Moses for the Israelites (Numbers 6:24-26). The shining of God's face signifies His favor, approval, and the bestowal of truth and goodness. In ancient cultures, a radiant face also conveyed joy and happiness, much like we use the word "beaming" today.
However, the psalmist’s request isn’t solely for Israel's benefit. The purpose of this blessing is profoundly missional: "that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations" (Psalms 67:2). The psalmist desires that God's favor on Israel would serve as a beacon, drawing all nations to recognize His saving power. God's blessings are not an end in themselves, but a means to an end – that He might receive glory and that others might experience salvation and discipleship.
A Universal Call to Praise (Psalms 67:3-5)
The psalmist then extends an invitation to all nations: "Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you" (Psalms 67:3). This isn't a forced submission, but a joyful response to God's righteous rule: "Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth" (Psalms 67:4). God's rule is characterized by fairness and justice. While Israel is His chosen people, He deals equitably with all the earth, guiding every culture. Some may resist His will, while others embrace it, but all should honor Him for His inherent goodness. This highlights the universality of God's love and concern for all humanity.
The repetition in Psalms 67:5, "Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you," emphasizes the importance and urgency of this universal call to worship. Praise leads to blessing, which in turn leads to more praise, ultimately resulting in the salvation of the lost and igniting further praise. This creates a virtuous cycle that ensures God is increasingly exalted.
Bountiful Harvest and Reverent Fear (Psalms 67:6-7)
The psalm concludes with a reflection on God's provision and the desired response: "The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!" (Psalms 67:6-7). The reference to a bountiful harvest can be understood both literally and symbolically. Literally, it speaks of God's provision for physical sustenance. Symbolically, it can represent the spiritual harvest – the fruit of transformed lives as people come to know and follow God.
The psalmist acknowledges God's blessing in the form of a bountiful harvest. He reiterates the purpose of this rich blessing: so that all the ends of the earth will fear God (Psalms 67:7). This "fear" is not a cowering terror, but a reverent respect and awe of God's power and holiness (Proverbs 1:7). It is a recognition of His sovereignty and a commitment to living in accordance with His will.
God blesses us so that we will make His priorities our own. He blesses us so that we will give Him public praise and use His blessings in such a way that others will see Him for who He is and be compelled to take Him seriously. He doesn’t bless us so that we can kick back, enjoy our blessings, and be self-absorbed.
Psalms 67 reminds us that God's blessings are always connected to His larger purpose of revealing Himself to the world. As we experience His grace and provision, we are called to be channels of blessing, sharing His love and truth with others so that all nations may come to know Him and worship Him.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Psalms 67 is a powerful hymn that builds upon the themes presented in Psalms 66. While the previous psalm focuses on praising God for His mighty acts of salvation on behalf of Israel, Psalms 67 broadens the scope, calling all nations to recognize and worship the Lord for His provision and righteous rule. This psalm beautifully interweaves God's blessing on His people with His ultimate desire for all the earth to know Him and experience His salvation. It serves as a reminder that God's blessings are not meant to be hoarded, but rather to be shared so that others may come to know Him.
God's Grace and Blessing (Psalms 67:1-2)
The psalm opens with a prayer for God's grace and blessing upon His people: "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us—" (Psalms 67:1). This blessing echoes the priestly blessing given by God to Moses for the Israelites (Numbers 6:24-26). The shining of God's face signifies His favor, approval, and the bestowal of truth and goodness. In ancient cultures, a radiant face also conveyed joy and happiness, much like we use the word "beaming" today.
However, the psalmist’s request isn’t solely for Israel's benefit. The purpose of this blessing is profoundly missional: "that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations" (Psalms 67:2). The psalmist desires that God's favor on Israel would serve as a beacon, drawing all nations to recognize His saving power. God's blessings are not an end in themselves, but a means to an end – that He might receive glory and that others might experience salvation and discipleship.
A Universal Call to Praise (Psalms 67:3-5)
The psalmist then extends an invitation to all nations: "Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you" (Psalms 67:3). This isn't a forced submission, but a joyful response to God's righteous rule: "Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth" (Psalms 67:4). God's rule is characterized by fairness and justice. While Israel is His chosen people, He deals equitably with all the earth, guiding every culture. Some may resist His will, while others embrace it, but all should honor Him for His inherent goodness. This highlights the universality of God's love and concern for all humanity.
The repetition in Psalms 67:5, "Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you," emphasizes the importance and urgency of this universal call to worship. Praise leads to blessing, which in turn leads to more praise, ultimately resulting in the salvation of the lost and igniting further praise. This creates a virtuous cycle that ensures God is increasingly exalted.
Bountiful Harvest and Reverent Fear (Psalms 67:6-7)
The psalm concludes with a reflection on God's provision and the desired response: "The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!" (Psalms 67:6-7). The reference to a bountiful harvest can be understood both literally and symbolically. Literally, it speaks of God's provision for physical sustenance. Symbolically, it can represent the spiritual harvest – the fruit of transformed lives as people come to know and follow God.
The psalmist acknowledges God's blessing in the form of a bountiful harvest. He reiterates the purpose of this rich blessing: so that all the ends of the earth will fear God (Psalms 67:7). This "fear" is not a cowering terror, but a reverent respect and awe of God's power and holiness (Proverbs 1:7). It is a recognition of His sovereignty and a commitment to living in accordance with His will.
God blesses us so that we will make His priorities our own. He blesses us so that we will give Him public praise and use His blessings in such a way that others will see Him for who He is and be compelled to take Him seriously. He doesn’t bless us so that we can kick back, enjoy our blessings, and be self-absorbed.
Psalms 67 reminds us that God's blessings are always connected to His larger purpose of revealing Himself to the world. As we experience His grace and provision, we are called to be channels of blessing, sharing His love and truth with others so that all nations may come to know Him and worship Him.