Bible Commentaries
Psalms 67

Verses 1-7

To the chief musician on Neginoth, to be rendered in public services with the accompaniment of stringed instruments, a psalm or song, the inspired author himself not being known.

v. 1. God be merciful unto us, looking upon the suppliants with grace and favor, and bless us, He, the only Giver of every good and every perfect gift, and cause His face to shine upon us, showing them the fullness of His favor, granting them His guiding presence, Numbers 6:25, Selah;

v. 2. that Thy way may be known upon earth, the manner in which the Lord conducted Himself, especially with regard to the salvation of His people, Thy saving health among all nations, that is, the salvation as revealed to men in the Word of the Gospel. The prayer of the psalmist is that God would find ways and means to spread the glorious news of salvation to all mankind, that the message of Christ, the Messiah, be made known among the Gentiles everywhere.

v. 3. Let the people, the nations throughout the earth, praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee.

v. 4. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, with an exultation caused by the glorious knowledge of salvation; for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, the judging in this case being done according to His merciful and mild rule, with reference to the righteousness of the Messiah, revealed in the Gospel and accepted by faith, and govern the nations upon earth, in His wonderful Kingdom of Grace. Selah.

v. 5. Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee, having accepted Him as their Lord and Savior.

v. 6. Then shall the earth yield her increase, it has, in fact, brought forth its fruit, in the person of the Redeemer with the fullness of His salvation, communicated to men by His gracious rule; and God, even our own God, truly ours by virtue of the fact that we are His children by faith in Christ Jesus, shall bless us, with all wonderful spiritual blessings in heavenly places in our Savior.

v. 7. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth, all the inhabitants of the world, shall fear Him, regard Him with reverent awe as the mighty Author of salvation. It is a wonderful picture of missionary endeavor and success which is here drawn, full of encouragement and inspiration to all believers.