Psalms 67:1-7: a reflection

1May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah. 2That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations, 3let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you. 4Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 5Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you. 6The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us. 7God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Psalm 67 opens with a familiar prayer for blessing: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us. But it does not stop there, and the very next line reveals a purpose beyond ourselves: that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. The prayer for blessing immediately opens outward: bless us, so that through us, your salvation may become known to all the peoples of the earth.

Notice the movement in the psalm. It asks God to bless his people, yes, but the reason given is not merely their own comfort or prosperity; it is so that God's way and salvation would be known among all nations, so that all the peoples would praise him. The blessing is meant to overflow, to become a channel through which God's goodness reaches the world. God's people are blessed not merely for their own sake, but to be a blessing, so that the nations come to know and praise him.

That reshapes how we think about God's blessings on us. We are prone to receive God's good gifts as though they were simply for our own enjoyment. Psalm 67 lifts our eyes: God blesses us with a larger purpose, that through us, through our lives, our witness, our sharing, his salvation might become known to others, and the nations come to praise him. Do not receive God's blessings only for yourself. Ask how the good God has given you might overflow to others, so that through your blessing, more people come to know and praise him. You are blessed to be a blessing, that all the peoples may praise God.

Lord, the psalm prays for your blessing with a purpose beyond ourselves: bless us, that your way may be known on earth and your salvation among all nations. Keep me from receiving your good gifts as though they were only for my own enjoyment. Lift my eyes to the larger purpose of your blessing, that through my life, my witness, my sharing, your salvation might become known to others, and the nations come to praise you. I am blessed to be a blessing; help me let your goodness overflow to others, that all peoples may praise you.