PSALM 67

To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be merciful to us and bless us, [And] cause His face to shine upon us, Selah 2 That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 6 [Then] the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

PSALM 67:1-7

GOD BLESS US… LET THE NATIONS BE GLAD

I took my daughter to a splash pad the other day. She had the time of her life getting soaked in cool, fresh water on a hot day. She kept begging me to come and play. There was more than enough water and she wanted me to join in the fun. Her joy would be multiplied by my participation in the artificial precipitation!

While we were there I couldn’t help but notice one particular feature of the splash pad. There were two cone shaped buckets suspended in the air being filled with water. The axis by which they were attached was just off center so when the bucket filled it spilled out on to everyone bellow. I couldn’t help but think of how God blesses us and our blessings flow to bless others as well.

God blesses us to be a blessing! The Old Testament nation of Israel had a peculiar promise and mission from God. It was through them (via the covenant God made with Abraham) that all the nations of the world would be blessed (Genesis 12). They were blessed, but the blessing wouldn’t be just for them, it was for all the nations. There would be excess blessing (this is how God blesses!) And in watching the overflow of blessing in others, they would be even more blessed!

When God blesses us, it isn’t just for our enjoyment, it’s also for the joy and blessing of others. The overflow of our cup not only blesses others but it increases our joy and celebration as we see God’s blessing continue to cascade to others! This should provoke us to prayer and praise as the Psalmist does here… “God bless us… let the nations be glad!”

There are some who have taken a pause at saying things like, “God Bless America.” I don’t know where the pause comes? Truly you should pray that God would bless your country (regardless of your nationality) and others would be blessed by it. Indeed its from the overflow of God’s blessing on Israel, that we are blessed! In that, we all have something to sing about!

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for grace upon grace poured out in blessing upon your people! Thank you for the blessings that have been poured out in my life. I rejoice to see how you have blessed my by the overflow of blessing on others and that you have used me as a vessel of your blessing to others! I rejoice in your goodness and celebrate your sovereignty today! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.