Favorable Faces Shining – Psalm 67

“To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah!” Psalm 67:1

God’s mercy, blessing and His face turned toward us with approving favor yields happiness. David composed a prayer-song about this. He sang to God for mercy, blessing and for His favor.

Matthew Henry wrote, “We need desire no more to make us happy than to have God’s face shine upon us, to have God love us, and let us know that He loves us.” [1]

“That Your way may be known on earth. Your salvation among all nations.” Psalm 67:2

Why do we seek God’s mercy, favor and blessing? The answer is so that His ways and salvation may be made known among the nations. When we enjoy the presence of God, we want to tell others about Him.

David sung to the Lord petitions for the conversion of the nations, “That Your way may be known upon earth. “Lord, I pray not only that You will be merciful to us and bless us, but that You will be merciful to all humankind, that Your way may be known upon earth.” [2]

David’s prayer-song parallels what Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10. The first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer from the original Greek to English is, “Our Father who [is] in the heavens. Let Your Name be made holy! Let your kingdom come! Let your will be done, as in heaven also on earth.” The Lord’s Prayer is also about God’s ways being made known and His salvation being experienced by people on the earth.

“Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:3

Amen! And I pray, “Heavenly Father, help us to go to highways, byways and next door to invite people to join us in worshipping You. Holy Spirit, please direct social media users to Christ-worshipping websites, as well as to radio stations that resound Your praises!”

“O, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah!” Psalm 67:4

Are we tired of hearing stories about liars, thieves and warmongers leading our nations? Let us turn to the Lord and be glad in Him! Let us sing for joy to Him! Thus, by our worship and praises to Him, profess our confidence that all the evildoers of the world combined together are as wind before Him. Our God is God Almighty Maker of heaven and earth. When we invite Him to judge and govern our nations, He sends forth His angels to fight the battles and turn the tide.

“Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:5

Yes, my prayer is, “Heavenly Father may our praises arise to You like the vapors of the earth that seed the clouds which in turn drop down rain upon our crops and cause them to produce abundantly. As we worship You, make the works of our hands and the meditations of our hearts bring forth abundant fruit for Your glory!”

“Let all the people praise You!” Not just some but all people! “Let us bring to You Abba Father whole-hearted worship in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ, by the power of Your Holy Spirit.”

I cannot imagine a better way to preach the Gospel or to testify for Jesus than do it with a heart filled with love for Him and with joy in Him. Such worship changes people.

In John 12:32, Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

“Then the earth shall yield her increase. God, our own God, shall bless us.” Psalm 67:6

The earth yielded its increase more than before after Israel worshipped God. The Creator of meat, fruits and vegetables blessed the produce of them.

God blessed their food as they thanked Him for it. In 1 Timothy 4:3-5, Paul wrote, “God created foods to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.”

“God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” Psalm 67:7

The ends of the earth shall fear Him, that is, harbor honorable thoughts about God.

In Psalm 42:11, David wrote, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God! I shall yet praise Him, the health of my countenance, and my God.” It makes sense that if God’s favor yields fruitful crops, His favor also yields a fruitful me. He is the health of my countenance. When I looked up the word for “health” in this verse, I discovered it was “יְשׁוּעֹת” from the word “Yeshua” or Jesus which means Savior.

While in the Orient, I learned that there are certain cultural do’s and don’ts to observe so as not to “lose face.” When all is said and done, it will be those who worship “יְשׁוּעֹת, Yeshua, Jesus, Savior, that shall not lose face. Our faces shall shine like the Son thanks to Him. In Psalm 34:5, David wrote, “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.”



[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid