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67. Psalm 67

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
   and make his face shine on us— The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.

2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
   your salvation among all nations.

    3 May the peoples praise you, God;
   may all the peoples praise you.

4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
   for you rule the peoples with equity
   and guide the nations of the earth.

5 May the peoples praise you, God;
   may all the peoples praise you.

    6 The land yields its harvest;
   God, our God, blesses us.

7 May God bless us still,
   so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.


3 Let the people praise thee, O God! Having spoken of all nations participating in the saving knowledge of God, he next tells us that they would proclaim his goodness, and exhorts them to the exercise of gratitude. The repetition used clearly shows of itself that he alludes to an event of a new and unprecedented kind. Had the allusion been to some such manifestation of his favor as he ordinarily made to the Jews, we would not have looked for the same vehemency of expression. First he says, Let the people praise thee; then he adds, Let all the people praise thee Afterwards he repeats the exclamation once more. But he appropriately makes mention, between, of rejoicing, and the occasion there was for it, since it is impossible that we can praise God aright, unless our minds be tranquil and cheerful — unless, as persons reconciled to God, we are animated with the hope of salvation, and “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,” reign in our hearts, (Philippians 4:7.) The cause assigned for joy plainly in itself points to the event of the calling of the Gentiles. The reference is not to that government of God which is general in its nature, but to that special and spiritual jurisdiction which he exercises over the Church, in which he cannot properly be said to govern any but such as he has gathered under his sway by the doctrine of his law. The word righteousness is inserted in commendation of his government. Language almost identical is used by Isaiah and Micah when they speak of the times in which the word of salvation would be diffused throughout all the earth, (Isaiah 11:4; Micah 4:3.)


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