Psalm 67

A Bible Devotion from Psalm 67

May the Peoples Praise You, O God

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, 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. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. 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.
Psalm 67, KJV

Why are we here? Why doesn't God just take us to heaven the moment we become a Christian? Amazing though it seems, God chooses to use the foolish things of the world (that's us!) to confound the wise. In the Old Testament times God was the God of the Children of Israel; only in a few exceptional cases did any non-Israelite become a Christian.

In the New Testament, through the hands of some of the disciples (Peter and the Apostle Paul) God revealed that salvation was for all mankind, not just for the Jews. This Psalm was written around the time that David was king or shortly thereafter, yet, even here we see this truth introduced: Let the peoples praise you, O God, let ALL the peoples praise you. The 67th Psalm ends: God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Why are we here? God has left us here to be a witness of God's great love and salvation through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is for all the nations! Many times we Christians seem so divided that we have lost sight of this truth. God has only one true church (even through we exist by many different names and denominations here on earth). One of the greatest miracles of heaven, I believe, will be the true and everlasting unity of all of the saints of Christ.

Pray today that God will use you as a witness and testimony to everyone you see today: family, friends, business associates, sales clerks, etc. Let them see God's face shining upon you!

Next: Psalm 68 - God Sets the Lonely in Families

More Devotions on the 67th Psalm from my blog, Daily Bible Devotions

Thy Way, verses 1-2

Judge Righteously, verses 3-4

Peace on Earth, verses 5-7