I have been meditating on Psalm 67 this week. Let me share a few thoughts with you on this wonderful prayer and song of thanksgiving.
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah
that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you."
God made a covenant with Abraham that He would bless him and that Abraham and his family would be a blessing to all the nations. [Gen. 12:1-3] All who have trusted in Jesus as Savior are recipients of this promise. We are blessed in order to be a blessing to everyone else everywhere.
"May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you."
People from every nation (people group) will rejoice and delight themselves in God when they experience the just and gracious rule of Christ over them. John Piper has said it well; “Mission is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is... Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal in missions...Missions begins and ends in worship.” [From ‘Let the Nations be Glad']
"Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him."
Abundant harvest is the result of God’s blessing. When people begin to walk in God’s ways, harvests tend to become more fruitful. Being able to sit down and enjoy a good meal with friends and family is something to give thanks to God about. We also anticipate from the Lord abundant spiritual harvest in and through our lives.
This beautiful Psalm begins with a prayer asking for God’s grace and blessing to be upon us so that people from many nations may come to know the Lord. It ends with a song of thanksgiving for this very thing; He will bless us and people everywhere; across the street and to the far reaches of the planet; will join us in worshiping Him.
