| Home | Old Testament Studies | Psalms Table of Contents | Previous Section | Next Section |
PSALM 67
STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
The Nations Exhorted to Praise God Deeds MT Intro For the choir director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song |
An Invocation and A Doxology | Thanksgiving for A Good Harvest | A Song of Thanksgiving | Harvest Song |
67:1-7 | 67:1-2 | 67:1-3 | 67:1-2 | 67:1-2 |
67:3-4 | 67:3 | 67:3 | ||
67:4-5 | 67:4 | 67:4 | ||
67:5-7 | 67:5 | 67:5 | ||
67:6-7 | 67:6-7 | 67:6-7 |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which
means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the
light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not
relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
"If a psalm was ever written round the promises to Abraham, that he would be both blessed and made a blessing, it could well have been such as this" (p. 254).
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 67:1-7
1God
be gracious to us and bless us,
And
cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.
2That Your way may be
known on the earth,
Your
salvation among all nations.
3Let
the peoples praise You, O God;
Let
all the peoples praise You.
4Let
the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For
You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And guide the nations on the earth.
Selah.
5Let
the peoples praise You, O God;
Let
all the peoples praise You.
6The
earth has yielded its produce;
God,
our God, blesses us.
7God
blesses us,
That all the
ends of the earth may fear Him.
67:1 Psalm 67:1 is a prayer that has a universal redemptive flavor. YHWH desires that all humans made in His image and likeness (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) be restored to fellowship following the rebellion and sin of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. The promise of Gen. 3:15 is directed to all humans (there is no Israel until the call of Abram in Genesis 12).
The salvation/restoration of the damaged "image" has been God's unalterable goal since the Fall (i.e., Isa. 2:2-4; 45:22; 52:10; 56:7; Micah 4:1-2). This clearly states my basic theological presupposition and theological grid!
SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
▣ "us" Who is the "us" (thrice in Ps. 67:1 and Ps. 67:6b, 7a)? From the reference to Numbers 6 (i.e., the Aaronic blessing) one would assume Israel (cf. Ps. 4:6), but notice the other references.
God desires the salvation of all (cf. John 3:16-17; 4:42; 12:47; Acts 2:17; Rom. 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 3:4; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:9-10,14).
▣ "Selah" See note at Psalm 3:2 and Introduction to Psalms, VII.
▣ "cause His face to shine upon us" This wording of the blessing of YHWH's personal presence and fellowship comes from the Aaronic blessing of Num. 6:22-27. The imagery is often repeated in the Psalms (cf. Ps. 4:6; 31:16; 80:3,7,19; 119:135).
67:2 "Your way" The way of God refers to His revelation. See the SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. Note the theological parallel at Ps. 16:11.
The theological concept of biblical faith as a way/road is crucial (see Psalm 1). Jesus described it as a gate and a road (cf. Matt. 7:13-27), a personal encounter followed by a Christ-centered life (cf. James 2:14-26). I have included the notes from my commentary on Acts 9:2 below.
Acts 9:2 "The Way" This was the early designation for believers (cf. Acts 19:9,23; 22:4; 24:14,22 and possibly 18:25,26). It has an OT background, speaking of lifestyle faith (cf. Ps. 1:1; 16:11; 119:105; 139:24; Prov. 4:10-19). Jesus uses this concept in Matt. 7:14 and uses the title for Himself in John 14:6. Christianity is a personal encounter followed by a daily relationship.
▣ "earth" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH. Only context can determine the meaning of this (or any) word.
67:4 This verse cannot be negative (i.e., judgement only) because the judgment of God on uprightness will cause the nations to
The idea that the nations will be led by God takes on more significance when one notices the number of times (past, present, future) this term (BDB 634) is used of Israel (cf. Deut. 32:12; Neh. 9:12; Ps. 5:8; 23:3; 31:3; 43:3; 73:24; 78:14,53,72; 107:30; 139:10; 143:10). Now this same divine leadership is available for a repentant, believing, Gentile world (cf. Jer. 16:19).
67:6 The covenants of the OT promised agricultural blessings for those who obeyed the covenant (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-28). This verse implies a repentant believing group among the peoples of the earth. It has an eschatological thrust.
The Bible begins in agricultural abundance (i.e., Garden of Eden) and ends with the same imagery (Revelation 21-22). This implies that the place of fellowship between God and humanity is a restored Garden of Eden (i.e., a cleansed and restored earth). There is no way to know if this is imagery or prophecy.
Many scholars have seen this Psalm as a harvest blessing based on this verse. However, the abundance of universal elements makes this doubtful. This Psalm is about God's desire for all the nations to know Him (cf. Ps. 67:2) and follow Him (Ps. 67:4) and, thereby be blessed (Ps. 67:6)!
SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT)
67:7 "That all the ends of the earth may fear Him" This is the use of the word "fear" (BDB 431, KB 432) in the sense of awe, respect, reverence. This universal theme is also stated in Ps. 22:27 and 33:8.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
| Home | Old Testament Studies | Psalms Table of Contents | Previous Section | Next Section |
Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International