Psalms 67 - Introduction

Another bright and joyous song, evidently intended for use in the Temple worship, perhaps, like the two last, at the Passover, but more probably, as the harvest seems to have been gathered in (Psalms 67:6), at the Feast of Pentecost (Harvest), or Feast of Tabernacles (Ingathering).

It consists of three stanzas of four, five, and six lines respectively. The second and third have an initial refrain.

i. In words borrowed from the ancient priestly benediction the assembled people pray for God's blessing, that all the world may learn the character of His providential dealings with men (Psalms 67:1-2).

ii. O that all nations might join in worshipping God, and rejoice in the establishment of His kingdom upon earth (Psalms 67:3-4)!

iii. Yea surely, they will join in His worship. He has granted Israel an abundant harvest; He does bless them and will continue to bless them, and so all nations will be won to acknowledge Him as their God (Psalms 67:5; Psalms 67:7).

The Psalm may be connected in origin as well as in purpose with the two preceding Psalms. Like them it is not merely a thanksgiving for a plentiful harvest, but is evidently inspired by the recollection of some great deliverance calculated to make a deep impression upon the nations, which might be regarded as the pledge if not the commencement of the visible divine rule of righteousness upon the earth. Now the destruction of Sennacherib's army, with which we have seen reason to connect the two last Psalms, was just such an event: and we know that the prophets of the time expected the establishment of the Messianic kingdom to follow immediately upon the removal of the Assyrian tyranny. See e.g. Isaiah 10:33 to Isaiah 11:9; Micah 5:2 ff.

As in Psalms 66 God's providential care for Israel in some great national crisis, so here His goodness towards His people exemplified in the recent bountiful harvest, is urged as an argument to win the nations to His service. Disaster and defeat, drought and scarcity, put Israel to shame before the nations (Joel 2:17; Joel 2:19); deliverance from danger and domestic prosperity were an evidence to the nations of the true character of Israel's God. The Psalm is inspired by the consciousness of Israel's mission to the world as the -Messianic nation," the instrument for the establishment of God's universal kingdom: it is a prayer for the accomplishment of that mission.

The O.T. prayer for the extension of God's salvation to all the nations is very appropriately appointed for use as an alternative Canticle to the Nunc Dimittis, the thanksgiving for the Saviour through Whom that hope is to be realised. It is moreover commonly used at Afternoon Service in the ritual of the Sephardic Jews.

The title may be rendered, For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm, a Song. See Introd. pp. xxiv, xix.