Psalm 67 Devotional

Blessed to Bless the Nations

“God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”Psalm 67:7 (BSB)

Psalm 67 opens with words that echo the blessing God gave Aaron to speak over Israel, asking God to be gracious, to bless, and to make his face shine on his people (67:1; Numbers 6:24-26). That alone would be a good prayer. But this psalm adds a purpose. God's people ask to be blessed so that his ways will be known on earth and his salvation among all nations (67:2).

Twice the refrain calls every people to praise God (67:3, 67:5). Between those lines the nations are invited to be glad, because God judges fairly and guides the nations (67:4). Even the harvest is part of the picture. The land has yielded its crops, and God's blessing on his people is meant to lead the whole world to revere him (67:6-7). God's blessing is never meant to stop with the ones who receive it. It flows through them toward others. Whatever kindness God has shown you, he means it to point beyond you to his goodness for the world.

To think about: How might God want the blessings he has given you to point someone else toward him this week?