Psalm 67

“God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, - Selah - that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth. - Selah  Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” Psalm 67:1-7 (NKJV)

As was the case with yesterday’s psalm (Psalm 66), today we get another glimpse into God’s desire for all men everywhere to follow Him.  David begins the psalm by referencing the Aaronic blessing, which God gave through Moses in order to bless the children of Israel.

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, “This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.’”  Numbers 6:22-27 (NKJV)

In Psalm 67, David is communicating that God wants to bless the people of Israel so that the other nations would see God’s desire for His people and observe the blessed results of faithfully following God.  Of course, simply saying a prayer over unwilling people does not make them followers of God.  Every Israelite had to personally choose to follow or reject the Lord.  Furthermore, it is a sin to receive the blessing and benefits of God (claiming to follow Him and be called by His Name) yet never commit oneself to be “His people.”

“You shall not take (receive) the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)

The purpose of the “chosen people” is so the nations would see God’s loving interaction with Israel, contrast their experience with evil idolatry, and choose God.

“But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.’” Ruth 1:16 (NKJV)

“Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant—even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.” Isaiah 56:6-8 (NKJV)