Let the Nations Be Glad!
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the people with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! - Psalm 67:4-5
Psalm 67 differs from most Psalms largely due to it’s missiological emphasis. Whereas a bulk of Psalms deal with Israel as God’s people or David crying out to the Lord, the 67th chapter of Psalm focuses on the people and nations of the earth. It is a plea for God’s grace, blessing and saving power to be shown over the earth so that the peoples praise God (vv. 1-3). There is a genuine emphasis of joy, gladness, and praise because of God’s rule over nations.
If you take into account the previous chapters of today’s reading in Jeremiah 48-49 where God judges the nations (Moab, Ammon, Damascus, Kedar & Hazor, and Elam) it can get pretty overwhelming. Add to that the viral photo of a boy from Syria (Omran Daqneesh) reminding of the horrors of war in Syria. It can get pretty hopeless pretty quick. Yet there is hope because Psalm 67 declares that God judges the people of the earth with equity and he guides the nations of the earth. God is right thick in the middle of the nations. He is neither distant or absent but rules with equity and guides with righteousness. I choose hope this morning. I hope in the unseen that God is ruling in the affairs of the nations. I choose hope that the nations be glad and that they will sing for joy because God is God of the nations.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for letting your kingdom come and your will be done in the nations! Would you have mercy and spare the innocent people in Syria? Would you intervene and guide them to righteousness?Please continue to remind me to choose hope in you. Help me to believe in the unseen of your sovereignty over the affairs of the nations. I love you. Maranatha!