by Pastor Chris Wall as printed in the Covenant Home Altar the week of August 27th
PSALM 67
Before you read Psalm 67, take a moment to listen to your emotional center. How are you feeling in this moment? Are you scattered, rushing? Are you content? Notice how you are feeling and then turn to this text.
Psalm 67
The Nations Called to Praise God
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,Selah
2 that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
7 May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.
An interesting pattern occurs in these seven verses. Verse 1 begins with a request for God to “bless us.” Then we move into lines expressing “praise” to God in verse 3. Verse 4 is the center, with “glad” and “joy” comprising the heart of the psalm. From the center, we return to “praise” in verse 5. Finally, the psalm lands us back with a request for “blessing.” From blessing to praise to joy to praise to blessing. This is a structure we can use in our own prayer life. Coming from wherever we are today, we can ask for God’s blessing, relying fully on his guidance. We can praise him for his goodness. There, we will find gladness and joy. From that place of joy, we return to our circumstances, confident in God’s presence.
God, our wise guide, bless us with your presence, accept our praise, and grant us joy today. AMEN.