Psalms 67

Psalms 67 opens with a prayer for God's mercy and blessing upon His people, so that His saving way may be known throughout the earth. It then calls for all nations to praise God and rejoice because He judges righteously and governs the world. The psalm concludes by affirming that God's blessing will cause the earth to yield its increase and lead all ends of the earth to fear Him.

This psalm begins with a supplication for divine mercy and blessing, asking God to cause His face to shine upon His people. The primary purpose of this blessing is explicitly stated: that God's way and His "saving health" might become known among all nations of the earth. The psalmist then issues a fervent call for all peoples and nations to offer praise to God, urging them to be glad and sing for joy. This joy is justified by God's righteous judgment of the people and His governance over all nations. The call for universal praise is reiterated, emphasizing the desire for global acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. The psalm anticipates that as a result of God's blessing, the earth will yield its abundant increase. Ultimately, it declares that God will bless His people, leading to all the ends of the earth fearing Him, signifying a universal recognition of His power and authority.

Psalms 67 commences with a direct plea to God for mercy and blessing upon His chosen people, requesting that He cause His countenance to shine upon them, a symbol of divine favor and presence. The immediate and overarching purpose for this requested blessing is then articulated: that God's righteous "way" and His "saving health"—His salvation and deliverance—might be universally recognized and understood among all the nations of the earth. This sets a global scope for the psalm's aspirations. Following this, the psalmist earnestly implores all peoples to praise God, repeating this call for universal adoration. The nations are encouraged to be glad and sing with joy, for a profound reason is given: God's righteous character as a judge who will govern all peoples with equity and justice. This emphasizes God's sovereignty and His moral order over creation. The call for all people to praise God is powerfully reiterated, underscoring the central theme of global worship. The psalm then shifts to describe the beneficial consequences of God's blessing and universal praise. It prophesies that the earth itself shall yield its abundant increase, signifying prosperity and fruitfulness as a direct result of divine favor. This agricultural blessing is presented as a tangible manifestation of God's continued blessing upon His people. The psalm concludes with a strong affirmation that God will indeed bless His people, and this blessing will lead to a profound outcome: all the ends of the earth shall fear Him. This "fear" denotes reverence, awe, and submission, indicating that God's glory and power will be acknowledged and respected by every nation, fulfilling the initial prayer for His way to be known globally.