A Prayer for Blessing the Nations
For Meditation (Richard Haney)
Psalm 67 along with Psalm 96 are considered “mission psalms.” Both psalms contain numerous references to “all nations”, “all the peoples”, “the families of the peoples” and “all the earth.” The global phrases show us how God cares for all those whom He has created. Both psalms also describe “all the peoples” praising God and declaring His glory. Finally, worshipping the Lord is linked to delight or joy among the worshippers in both psalm prayers.
As you prepare for worship, meditate on Psalm 67 and pay attention to all the global phrases. Ask yourself what God’s interest in “all nations” has to do with mission, has to do with you and me?
What nations or people groups show up in your daily or weekly prayers? Do you pray for the hard places like Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar and Yemen? Do you pray for those places where the church is tiny and struggling or non-existent? Say, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Turkey and Thailand, Cambodia, Libya and Bangladesh! Are there ethnic peoples or nations that trigger fear or enmity or dislike in you that God can help you overcome?
The psalmist must have known about Abraham’s call in Genesis. In Genesis 12:1-3 we read of God’s promises to bless all the families on earth “through Abraham.” Do you hear the echo of this promise in the psalm?
“May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2
All the psalms are prayers. They call us to prayer and they give us language to express our hearts’ desires to God in petition, praise, lament and intercession. Psalm 67 connects God’s blessings poured out on Israel in the Old Testament and upon the Church in the New Testament to the rest of the world.
Let us pray this psalm with faith and hope that God will be revealed to all peoples. Let us look forward to the wonderful picture in Revelation 7 of a multi-national multitude worshipping the Lamb!
Psalm 67
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
6 The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.