The Prayer of Israel for the blessing which Messiah is to bestow on them, for the sake of earth at large

David prays for the enlargement of God’s kingdom that is His church. It is through the church that His message is conveyed, His saving health (salvation) declared, and His glory revealed. There is a prophetic nature about the psalm because it envisages the ingathering of the Gentiles. Not only the Jewish nation should praise Him, but all the nations of the earth.

When His face shines upon His people, then His way shall be made known throughout the world. His shining face is His favour, but also there is this sense that “God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” It is the face or person of Jesus Christ that shines and casts the radiance of His grace and love upon our sick souls. He is the One who gives saving health. The psalm teaches us to be expansive in worship, and in our desire to evangelise.

Pastor Jeff O’ Neil

Recommended Tune: Garelochside

Psalm 67 – First Version (Short metre)

¹Lord, bless and pity us,
Shine on us with thy face:
²That th’ earth thy way, and nations all
May know thy saving grace.

³Let people praise thee, Lord;
Let people all thee praise.
⁴O let the nations be glad,
In songs their voices raise:

Thou’lt justly people judge,
On earth rule nations all.
⁵Let people praise thee, Lord; let them
Praise thee, both great and small.

⁶The earth her fruit shall yield,
Our God shall blessing send.
⁷God shall us bless; men shall him fear
Unto earth’s utmost end.