Psalm 66

“Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved. For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” Psalm 66:8-12 (NKJV).

Today’s psalm carries the heading, “Praise to God For His Awesome Works.”  We would naturally be inclined to assume the audience was Israel.  After all, the psalm praises the awesome works of the God of Israel.  While Israel is an intended recipient, the psalm is also written to the nations, the “peoples.”  The intent of its message is for the nations to observe how God deals with Israel (and how Israel responds to God) and for the nations to respond by praising the Lord.  You see, the God of the Old Testament was not against foreigners.  He was against foreign gods!  God’s reason for raising up a people unto Himself was not so He could isolate the nations but so He could gather the nations.  Israel was to be a nation of priests, each pointing the way to the one true God.

“And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” Exodus 19:3-6 (NKJV)

This Israelite “priesthood” is not speaking solely of the Levites, although they acted as priests within the “nation of priests.”  Rather, every Israelite was to represent the Lord in such a way as to convince foreigners to leave their idols and worship the one true God alone.  It is also the primary calling of every believer in Jesus.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)

“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5b-6 (NKJV)

As God tests and refines His people, the world is intently watching.  God makes priests out of ordinary sinners…you and me.  Does your response to His refining testify to His extraordinary ability to transform a person?  (Romans 12:2)