The Missionary Psalm
Another big day for the Summers family. We had our final inspection on our basement project. We were over time and over budget, but it is completed. We are looking forward to having our first guests in a couple of weeks as missionaries Norm and Heather Edwards come for a visit. Norm is serving in a part-time role in missions at Timberline Church, while continuing his overseas work in the Ukraine.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world.” Psalm 67:2-4 NLT
As I read this psalm, I thought, “this is a missionary’s psalm.” I recall when Debbie and I were first married considering a short term missionary assignment to the Marshall Islands. It just so happened at that time, they were in need of a nurse and a business teacher. Those two professions matched our employment at the time. While that endeavor didn’t work out, we have always had a heart for missionaries. I made it a focus of my pastoral ministry and we were pleased when my son and his family served as missionary associates to the Philippines.
To understand God’s heart, is to see His plan is not just for “a” people or “a” nation, but for the whole world. It is easy for us to live with an “ethnocentric” mindset that allows us to focus only what is happening in our nation. That would have certainly been the case for David. After all, the Jews were “God’s chosen people.” Even after the Day of Pentecost, it was difficult for the apostles to see that God’s will was for Jews and Gentiles to both be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
But in this psalm we see clearly that God’s will and David’s prayer and ours should be for God’s “ways be known throughout the earth, [His] saving power among people everywhere.”
What a great picture of all the nations worshiping the Lord. “Yes, may all the nations praise you. Let the whole world sing for joy….” I can’t help but look to Revelation and read, “…I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9,10 NIV)
David’s prayer and the Lord’s desire will one day find its fulfillment. I would say that if we were to have “heaven’s” perspective we could see glimpses of that now throughout the earth as Christ-followers on every continent can be found lifting their voices in praise to the Lord of all the earth.
True peace is found in the “Prince of Peace” ruling an reigning. David declares, “…you govern the nations with justice…” (Psalm 67:4 NLT) “World peace” is sought through many means, but the path to that end is found alone in Jesus Christ. When He reigns all is right and all is blessed.
“May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.” (Psalm 67:5-7 NLT)
Prayer for today… Lord, You are the hope for all people of all nations. We pray that these ancient words will soon find their fulfillment in Your divine plan. We pray Your name will be known among all nations, that You will be exalted and Your peace and glory will reign. Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.