Psalm 67:1-7 God be merciful to us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine on us; Selah.… The psalmist prays "that the favour of God towards the chosen people may become visible, in order that, by its splendour, it may lead the heathen to the hope of sharing in it." The salvation of the heathen is here felt to depend upon the following conditions: - I. THE SALVATION OF THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE HIS CHURCH. (Vers. 1, 2.) If it is God's "way" to save any, he must be able and willing to save all. And if his face shone upon them, his "saving health" would be made manifest to all peoples. This is the force of the prayer here used. II. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD. (Ver. 4.) 1. God, as the experience of Israel shows, governs men upon righteous principles. The psalm was most probably written after the Exile - a terrible part of their history, which taught them how God punishes sin. 2. God is leading the world forward upon a Divine course. (Ver. 4.) He "governs" or leads the nations as a shepherd leads his flock. To this truth the Hebrews bore emphatic testimony. III. GOD'S BOUNTY TO THE EARTH IS HIS BOUNTY TOWARDS MAN. (Ver. 6.) "The earth yields her increase; God, our God, blesses us." But the harvest is only a single, though a splendid, instance of God's goodness towards men; he blesses them in a thousand ways, which, when considered, are adapted deeply to impress the heathen mind. - S. Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song.} God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.WEB: May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah. |
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