Will the nations of the world ever praise God? The answer is a resounding YES! Furthermore, we are assured of that in the Book of Revelation. Amazingly, this prophetic psalm of praise, written hundreds of years ago, will be fulfilled in the not too distant future. Let’s dig in…
Psalm 67
For the choir director: A song. A psalm, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 May God be merciful and bless us.
May his face smile with favor on us. Interlude (Selah, pause and ponder)2 May your ways be known throughout the earth,
your saving power among people everywhere.
3 May the nations praise you, O God.
Yes, may all the nations praise you.
4 Let the whole world sing for joy,
because you govern the nations with justice
and guide the people of the whole world. Interlude5 May the nations praise you, O God.
Psalm 67 NLT
Yes, may all the nations praise you.
6 Then the earth will yield its harvests,
and God, our God, will richly bless us.
7 Yes, God will bless us,
and people all over the world will fear him.
The Priestly Blessing
The opening verses of this psalm echoes the Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6. I’m sure you’ve heard it as many pastors end services with this…
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 “‘The Lord bless you
Numbers 6:22-26 NIV
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.‘”
I turn to the good folks at Spoken Gospel for some insight…
As God’s face shone on Israel, Israel would then reflect his light to countries that were still in the dark and strangers to God. In other words, these nations could look to Israel and see what God is like, and learn about the God who wants to bless them. So over and over the people of Israel cry that the world would know and praise God (Psalm 67:3, 5).
The song compares God being known on earth to an abundant harvest (Psalm 67:2 ,6). The psalmist believes history will end with a harvest festival. Not just of food, but of people finally knowing God’s gracious salvation for themselves. As people reflect the light of God’s face, God’s blessings spread from person to person and nation to nation, who then also begin to reflect the light of God. Eventually the entire world will become a ripe field covered with people who shine like God (Psalm 67:6). Israel’s current abundant harvest anticipates the numberless worshipers God intends to save (Psalm 67:7).
At the center of the song is the reason the nations are glad and sing for joy–because God rules and guides them (Psalm 67:4). He rules impartially and guides wisely, so that his global Kingdom celebrates with joy.
Spoken Gospel
A Prophetic Praise Psalm
When you look around the world today, you can definitely say that the nations aren’t praising God. In fact, they are very far from it. The opening verses of Psalm 2 are more like it…
Why are the nations so angry?
Psalm 2 NLT
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
The first Jewish Christians quoted this in Acts 4, which kicked off the Church Age. Moreover, that’s where we are now. The Church Age ends with the Rapture of the born-again Christians — His True Church — the Bride of Christ. Given that, with all the “wars and rumors of wars” in the world today, when will all the nations praise God?
Obviously, that’s in the future. We find that in the Book of Revelation. John wrote…
9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a great roar,
“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
Revelation 7:9-10 NLT
and from the Lamb!”
Then, in Revelation 21, John describes the New Jerusalem…
22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Revelation 21:22-27 NLT
Is YOUR name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
Finally, for all eternity we will see Jesus’ face up close and personal…
4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:4-5 NLT
Praying Psalm 67
This is a short, easy psalm that we can pray daily. We should all be eager for the day that Jesus comes back for us. Remember, for the born-again Christian, this evil world is not our home! Our Home is in Heaven with Jesus! It’s in Heaven when all the nations will praise Him and glorify Him. I don’t know about you but I want a front row seat!
Where you spend eternity is a choice you need to make now!
It’s either Heaven or hell. There’s no such thing as purgatory! So…
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
