Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-121 Sunday 01 Jul 2001

Reading: PSALM 67 – **************

(From ‘Encounter with God’ Bible Reading Notes)

All the ends of the earth will fear him’

Let us ‘lift up Christ before the world, talk about him to everybody, and live so closely with and in him that others may see that there really is such a person as Jesus because some human being proves it by being like him’ (Betty Stam, CIM missionary, martyred 1935).

This psalm begins with the familiar words of the Aaronic blessing (Num 6:24-26). The writer knew the Scriptures and how to use them to enhance prayer and worship. What follows is a request for God to bless his people, but the perspective is a broader one – the reason for asking for God’s blessing is so that God’s name will be exalted, not just in Israel, but in all the nations of the world.

For this to happen, the surrounding nations had to recognise God’s greatness through the way he dealt with his people. Then they would see how he works in the world, and would begin to understand his salvation. Twice in the psalm we read, ‘May all the peoples praise you’ (vs 3,5), and once ‘all the ends of the earth will fear him’ (v 7). When they see his greatness, his justice, and his compassionate generosity, they too will be drawn to him in praise and reverent fear. Although the Israelites were God’s own people, his concern for the world did not end there. He always longed for others beyond Israel to come to him.

How often do we meet in church, and enjoy praising and worshipping God together, asking him to bless us, without giving a thought to the people living around us who know nothing of our heavenly Father? How insular we are! God delights to bless his people; perhaps he expects more of us.

Our experience of God is one of the ways he uses to reveal himself to those who know little about him, or who are simply not interested. If God cares so much about the non-Christian world, how can we afford to ignore it?

How about this for a goal? Showing love in an age of loneliness, giving witness in an age lacking standards and speaking simply of a wonderful Lord in an age that lacks a Master.

– Rosemary Linton

Copyright Scripture Union, 2001