Bible Study from February 10, 2020 - Psalm 67

In this study, we focused on Psalm 67, a psalm that reminds us of God’s will that all peoples and nations hear of His love and His care for them, too, and His saving power in Jesus, above all.
From the time that God had called Abram to be the father of the Jewish nation (Genesis 12:1-3), He also intended to bless all families of the earth, through one of Abram’s descendants, our Lord Jesus. In Genesis 17, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham, as he would be the “father of a multitude” of nations, as people from many different nations, not just Jews, would come to faith in Jesus and be brought into His family of faith. See Genesis 17:3-6, and how this passage is quoted in the New Testament, in Romans 4:16-18, and Genesis 12:3 is quoted in Galatians 3:7-14. The true children of Abraham are now those from every nation (the Gentiles , the non-Jews, as well as Jews) who come to believe in Jesus, the promised Savior, and are blessed by Him, together with Abraham, with faith.

Psalm 67, then, is a kind of Old Testament missionary prayer that God’s chosen people, the Jews, would be a light and witness for the one true God to people of other nations. The Psalmist, who is not identified, begins this psalm with a simplified version of the Benediction that Aaron was to use to bless God’s people. See the words of Numbers 6:22-27, and compare them with Psalm 67, v. 1. It is a blessing that we still use today in worship. God’s people are blessed with His grace and Presence, for a purpose, too - “that God’s way may be known on earth and His saving power among all nations” (Psalm 67:2). God’s people are blessed, so that they can be a blessing to other peoples and nations. As they praise God , they can encourage others to praise God, as well, so that eventually more and more people from “all the ends of the earth” will praise and “fear” God (have respect and reverence for Him) because of His blessings and fairness and guidance for them, too, as well as Israel. See Psalm 67:3-7, for Israel, but also for all nations.

In Psalm 67:2, the Psalmist prays to God, above all, “that Your Way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations.” God’s Way and Salvation would ultimately be shown in the coming of His own Son, Jesus, who is revealed so clearly in the New Testament as the Savior. This Savior, this Servant of God, is prophesied about, again and again in the Old Testament, too. See, for example, Isaiah 42:1-8, the first of a series of predictions about the coming Savior, Jesus. He, above all, would be “a Light for the nations” (see v.6 and John 8:12) and would bring in “new things” and be “a (new) covenant for the people” (v.6,9). See also Isaiah 43:9-10,18-19, where the coming Servant will be the greatest witness to the gathered nations, but God’s people can also be “witnesses “ of the “new thing” being done by the Servant Savior.” See also Isaiah 44:6-8, with the call to God’s people, “You are My witnesses.” Psalm 67, then, is a call for God’s people, as they are blessed, to be a blessing to others, as witnesses for the Lord. As we read this psalm today, it not just a history lesson from the past. We also, are called to be witnesses, since we know even more clearly what God’s “Way” and His power are, in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). 

Jesus’ “saving power," in His perfect life and death on the cross and victory even over death, becomes the Way to salvation and eternal life, for us and for the whole world. We are called simply to believe the Good News of Jesus our Savior and follow Him in faith. In the Book of Acts, especially, the Christian faith is often simply called “the Way." (See Acts 9:2, 16:17, 18:25-26, 19:9,23, 22:4, and 24:14, for example.)

New Testament believers are also called to be witnesses for the Way and God’s saving power in Christ. We also hear the Risen Lord Jesus saying, “You will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:7) and telling His followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). Psalm 67 is a missionary psalm for us and our day, too.