Table of Contents
Background and Context
Psalm 67 is a short but powerful hymn, sung by the community of Israel. The author is anonymous, but the psalm’s central theme of a bountiful harvest (“the land has yielded its harvest”) strongly suggests it was used during one of Israel’s great agricultural festivals, most likely the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). This was a joyous occasion celebrating the final gathering of the year’s crops.
However, this psalm is much more than a simple harvest thanksgiving. It is one of the most explicitly missionary psalms in the Old Testament. The psalmist understands that God’s blessing upon Israel is not for their benefit alone. The ultimate purpose of God’s favor and provision for His people is so that He will be made known, praised, and worshiped by all the nations of the earth. The harvest from Israel’s land is seen as a springboard for a spiritual harvest among the peoples of the world.
Theological Themes
This psalm presents a beautiful vision of God’s global purposes, rooted in His blessing of His own people.
The Missional Purpose of God’s Blessing: The core message of the psalm is that God blesses His people so that they can be a blessing to the world. The prayer begins with a plea for God’s grace and favor, but immediately connects this to a global purpose: “so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations” (verse 2). Israel was intended to be a showcase of God’s goodness and power, drawing the rest of the world to Him.
God’s Righteous Rule as a Source of Joy: The psalm invites the nations to “be glad and sing for joy” (verse 4). The reason for this joy is not material prosperity, but the reality of God’s governance. He “judges the peoples with equity” and guides the nations. In a world often filled with corrupt and unjust rulers, the prospect of God’s perfect, righteous rule is a cause for immense celebration.
Universal Praise as the Ultimate Goal: The psalm is structured around a recurring refrain: “May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you” (verses 3, 5). This is the ultimate desire of the psalmist. The entire movement of history, from God’s blessing on Israel to the harvest of the land, is aimed at this final, glorious outcome: a global chorus of praise from every nation, tribe, and tongue, all directed to the one true God.
The Connection Between Physical and Spiritual Harvest: The declaration that “the land yields its harvest” (verse 6) is the tangible evidence of God’s blessing. The psalmist sees this physical provision as a sign of God’s spiritual favor, which in turn acts as a catalyst for the nations to “fear him.” The goodness of God in creation is meant to lead people to worship the Creator.
Literary Structure and Genre
Psalm 67 is a community song of thanksgiving with a strong prophetic and missional focus. Its structure is clear, symmetrical, and built around its central refrain.
- Part 1: The Prayer and its Purpose (verses 1-3): A prayer for God’s blessing on Israel, with the explicit goal of world evangelization, culminating in the first refrain.
- Part 2: The Reason and the Refrain (verses 4-5): A call for the nations to rejoice in God’s just rule, culminating in the second refrain.
- Part 3: The Evidence and its Effect (verses 6-7): A statement about the harvest as evidence of God’s blessing, with the final goal that all the earth will fear Him.
Verse by Verse Commentary on Psalm 67
Verses 1-3: A Prayer for Blessing, a Purpose for Mission
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.”
The psalm opens with words that would have been very familiar to every Israelite. It is a direct echo of the Aaronic Blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26. This prayer for grace, blessing, and the shining of God’s face is a plea for God’s active, favorable presence among His people.
Verse 2 immediately provides the reason why they ask for this blessing. It is not for selfish enjoyment. The purpose is missional: “so that your ways may be known on earth.” They want God’s character and His works of “salvation” to be seen and understood by every nation on the planet. God’s blessing on Israel is intended to be a powerful, living advertisement for the goodness of God to a watching world.
This leads directly to the psalm’s great refrain in verse 3. The logical outcome of God revealing His salvation to the nations is that they will respond with worship. The psalmist longs for a day when all peoples will join the chorus of praise.
Verses 4-5: Joyful Submission to a Just King
“May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.”
The psalmist now directly addresses the nations, inviting them to be glad and sing for joy. He gives them a profound reason to celebrate: the quality of God’s rule. In a world accustomed to tyranny, corruption, and injustice from human rulers, the news of a God who judges with equity—with perfect fairness and righteousness—is the best news possible.
God is not only a just judge, but also a benevolent shepherd who will “guide the nations of the earth.” His rule is not just about punishing wrong, but about leading all of humanity into paths of peace and prosperity. The prospect of this perfect global governance is the ultimate reason for universal joy.
This thought is so wonderful that it prompts the repetition of the refrain in verse 5. The righteous rule of God is the foundation for the universal praise of God.
Verses 6-7: A Harvest of Blessing, A Harvest of Worshipers
“The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.”
The psalmist now points to the tangible evidence of God’s favor that has prompted this song of praise: “The land yields its harvest.” The crops have come in, and this abundance is a direct sign that “God, our God, blesses us.” The physical harvest is a seal on God’s covenant faithfulness.
The psalm concludes in verse 7 by restating its main theme. The psalmist prays for God’s blessing to continue, and once again states the ultimate purpose: “so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.” This “fear” is not cowering terror, but a reverent awe, worship, and allegiance. The final vision of the psalm is of a world where every single person has seen the goodness of God and has responded by turning to Him in worship.
Practical Lessons for Today
God Blesses Us to Be a Blessing: This psalm challenges the idea that God’s blessings are just for our own private enjoyment. Whether the blessing is material, spiritual, or relational, God gives it to us with a purpose: that we might be a conduit of His grace and a witness of His goodness to the people around us.
God’s Justice is Good News for the World: We often think of judgment as a negative thing. This psalm reminds us that for the oppressed and marginalized, the news of a perfectly just Judge is the best news imaginable. We should pray for God’s righteous rule to be established in a world so full of inequity.
Share the Evidence of God’s Goodness: The psalmist pointed to the harvest as tangible proof of God’s blessing. What is the “harvest” in your life? Where can you see the evidence of God’s provision and favor? We are called to point to these things and give God the glory, so that others might be drawn to Him.
Pray for Global Revival: Psalm 67 is, at its heart, a prayer for the world. It should motivate us to pray with passion for people of all nations to come to know the salvation of God and to join the chorus of praise. It aligns our hearts with God’s great global and missionary heart.
Cross References
Numbers 6:24-26: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” This is the Aaronic Blessing, which the psalmist directly quotes and builds upon in Psalm 67:1, giving it a new, missional dimension.
Genesis 12:2-3: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Psalm 67 can be seen as a prayerful outworking of the original Abrahamic Covenant, where God blesses His chosen people for the ultimate purpose of blessing all nations.
Isaiah 49:6: “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” This famous prophecy given to the Servant of the LORD perfectly expresses the missional hope of Psalm 67:2, revealing God’s plan to extend His salvation to the whole world.
Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The Great Commission is the ultimate command that flows from the heart of psalms like Psalm 67. The prayer that God’s ways would be known among the nations is fulfilled in the church’s mission to make disciples of all nations.