DiscipleDeck
Get started
Bible Commentary

Psalms 67:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

This is a song of salvation.

It teaches that—

I. SALVATION IS FROM GOD. Hence God's mercy is specially invoked. It is as God causes his face to shine upon us in Christ Jesus () that his "way" is made known, and his "salvation" enjoyed (, ).

II. SALVATION IS THE HIGHEST BLESSING FOR MAN. When the high priest blessed the people, he spoke for God (). Salvation is "saving health." Man is corrupt. There is no "soundness" in him. But God brings healing. Salvation is to be restored to health in body and soul and spirit ().

III. SALVATION IS IMPARTED THROUGH HUMAN AGENCY. God works by means. He uses man to help man. "The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (; cf. ). When we believe on Christ, we may say, with Simeon, "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation" (). And what Christ has won for us he would have us make known to others. All Christians are missionaries. "God does with us as we with torches do." Every lamp that is lighted is lighted in order to shine. We are to receive and reflect the light (; ).

IV. SALVATION IS DESTINED TO SPREAD AMONG ALL NATIONS. It was not limited to Israel. There is no exclusiveness in the gospel. There is no brand of reprobation on any man's brow. The salvation of Christ is for all people—the Jew first, but also for all men. "The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (). This we have seen in part, and greater fulfilments are near. Paul could say (), "From Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." But how great has been the advance since then! Nations that Paul never knew have heard the joyful sound, and the most distant isles of the sea have been blessed in Christ.

V. SALVATION WILL ULTIMATELY FILL THE EARTH WITH JOY AND PEACE. Harvest is the time of joy. The great harvest-home of the world is coming (, ; ; ).—W.F.

Recommended reading

More for Psalms 67:1-7

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Matthew Henry on Psalms 67:1-7Psalms 67:1-7 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryAll our happiness comes from God's mercy; therefore the first thing prayed for is, God be merciful to us, to us sinners, and pardon our sins. Pardon is conveyed by God's blessing, and secured in that. If we, by faith, w…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:1-7Psalms 67:1-7 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION ACCORDING to some, this psalm, like Psalms 65:1-13, is a harvest thanksgiving (Hengstenberg, Cheyne). But the single expression (in Psalms 65:6) on which this view is grounded seems insufficient to support it…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:1Psalms 67:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryGod be merciful unto us, and bless us. An echo of the priestly blessing (Numbers 6:24, Numbers 6:25), but not necessarily uttered by a priest. The substitution of Elohim for Jehovah is natural, considering the universal…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:1-7Psalms 67:1-7 · The Pulpit CommentaryA missionary psalm. The psalmist prays "that the favour of God towards the chosen people may become visible, in order that, by its splendour, it may lead the heathen to the hope of sharing in it." The salvation of the h…
commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 67:1-7All our happiness comes from God's mercy; therefore the first thing prayed for is, God be merciful to us, to us sinners, and pardon our sins. Pardon is conveyed by God's blessing, and secured in that. If we, by faith, w…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:1-7EXPOSITION ACCORDING to some, this psalm, like Psalms 65:1-13, is a harvest thanksgiving (Hengstenberg, Cheyne). But the single expression (in Psalms 65:6) on which this view is grounded seems insufficient to support it…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:1God be merciful unto us, and bless us. An echo of the priestly blessing (Numbers 6:24, Numbers 6:25), but not necessarily uttered by a priest. The substitution of Elohim for Jehovah is natural, considering the universal…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:1-7A missionary psalm. The psalmist prays "that the favour of God towards the chosen people may become visible, in order that, by its splendour, it may lead the heathen to the hope of sharing in it." The salvation of the h…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:2That thy way may he known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. God is besought to bless his people Israel (Psalms 67:1), in order that so his "way" may become known to all the earth, his "saving health," or…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:3Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee; rather, the peoples, in both clauses. In the second clause the prayer is intensified by the addition of the word cullam, "all of them."Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:4O let the nations be glad and sing for joy. There could be no greater blessing to the nations than their attraction into God's kingdom; nor, consequently, any event more worthy to be hailed with joyful acclaim, with son…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 67:4Universal joy. "Let the nations be glad." I. GOD IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD RECOGNIZES THE EXISTENCE OF SEPARATE NATIONS. II. GOD IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD ADAPTS HIS METHODS TO THE NECESSITIES OF NATIONS. (Amo…Joseph S. Exell and contributors