Psalms Chapter 67 For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song.
1 May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.
2 That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation amongst all nations,
3 let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
4 Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah.
5 Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
6 The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.
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Psalms Chapter 67 For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. Guide
In this psalm there is a fine merging of prayer and praise. Prayer is its dominant note. Moreover, it is prayer on the highest level. It asks for personal blessing, but its deepest passion is that all peoples may be blessed and led to praise. If it was a harvest festival song, as the first part of verse Psalms 67:6 would seem to indicate, then the local occasion is graciously submerged in a far wider outlook. The singer, even more remarkably than in the preceding psalm, recognizes the true function of the Holy Nation.
The word "that," with which verse Psalms 67:2 opens, is of the utmost importance: That God's way may be known upon earth, His saving health among all nations, is the ultimate purpose of His heart, and the mission of His people. In order to accomplish this the singer prays for blessing on and through them - on them, "God be merciful unto us, and bless us"; through them, "Cause His face to shine with us."
The central desire of the prayer is uttered at its centre (verses Psalms 67:3-5); and the method is again indicated at its close (verses Psalms 67:6-7). This is not asking in order to consume gifts on personal lusts. It is rather a passion which is self-emptied, and therefore pure. Such praying hastens the Kingdom.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Psalms Chapter 67 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- A prayer for the enlargement of Christ's kingdom.
Verses 1-7
All our happiness comes from God's mercy; therefore the first thing prayed for is, God be merciful to us, to us sinners, and pardon our sins. Pardon is conveyed by God's blessing, and secured in that. If we, by faith, walk with God, we may hope that his face will shine on us. The psalmist passes on to a prayer for the conversion of the Gentiles, which shows that the Old Testament saints desired that their advantages might also be enjoyed by others. And many Scripture prophecies and promises are wrapped up in prayers: the answer to the prayer of the church is as sure as the performance of God's promises. The joy wished to the nations, is holy joy. Let them be glad that by his providence the Lord will overrule the affairs of kingdoms; that even the kingdoms of this world shall became the kingdom of the Lord, and of his Christ. Then is declared a joyful prospect of all good when God shall do this. The success of the gospel brings outward mercies with it; righteousness exalts a nation. The blessing of the Lord sweetens all our creature-comforts to us, and makes them comforts indeed. All the world shall be brought to worship Him. When the gospel begins to spread, it shall go forward more and more, till it reaches to the ends of the earth. It is good to cast in our lot with those that are the blessed of the Lord. If nothing had been spoken in Scripture respecting the conversion of the heathen, we might think it vain to attempt so hopeless a work. But when we see with what confidence it is declared in the Scriptures, we may engage in missionary labours, assured that God will fulfil his own word. And shall we be backward to make known to the heathen the knowledge with which we are favoured, and the salvation we profess to glory in? They cannot learn unless they are taught. Then let us go forward in the strength of the Lord, and look to him to accompany the word the Holy Ghost; then Satan's kingdom shall be destroyed, and the kingdom of our Redeemer established.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.