Psalms 67:7

Verse Psalms 67:7. God shall bless us] He shall ever be speaking good to us, and ever showering down good things upon us.

The last clause of the sixth verse should be joined to the seventh, as it is in several of the Versions, and should be in all. Many of the fathers, and several commentators, have thought that there is a reference to the Holy Trinity in the triple repetition of the word GOD: "God, our God, shall bless us; God shall bless us;" thus paraphrased in the old Psalter: "Blis us God the Fader: and our God the sone: and blis us and multipli us God the Hali Gast; that swa drede him God, all the endis of erth; for he wil comme to deme rightwysly that unrightwysly was demed. He that kan drede him, he cesses noght to lufe him."

When or by whom this Psalm was written cannot be ascertained. It seems to be simply a prophecy concerning the calling of the Gentiles, the preaching of the apostles, and the diffusion and influence of Christianity in the world. It is a fine piece of devotion; and it would be nearly impossible to read or repeat it with a cold and unaffected heart.

ANALYSIS OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH PSALM

This Psalm may be divided into three parts: -

I. A general prayer, Psalms 67:1. And the reason of it, Psalms 67:2.

II. A double vow, Psalms 67:3. With the reason. The vow repeated, Psalms 67:6.

III. The effects that were to follow, Psalms 67:6.

1. The first part, a prayer for mercy: "God be merciful to us!" for God's mercy is the fountain of all our blessings.

2. Then bless us through that mercy with temporal and spiritual good.

3. "Cause his face to shine." Give us a sense of thy approbation.

4. Let these blessings be extended to all men. For this reason: 1. "That thy way," thy will, word, worship, c., "may be known upon earth." 2. "Thy saving health," the redemption by Christ, "to all nations."

II. Then shall God be honoured one will readily flow from the other; for mercy brings knowledge of God and his goodness; and this knowledge brings praise. This verse is emphatic: -

1. In respect of the object; "Thee," not strange gods.

2. ALL shall praise - not mutter or meditate praise, but make it illustrious.

3. This should be done frequently, an example of which we have in this Psalm.

4. It should be done cheerfully, with a glad heart; not words merely, but affections of praise.

For this also he gives a reason which is two-fold: -

1. His equity in judging: "Thou shalt judge the people righteously."

2. His wisdom in governing. Thou shalt lead them, תנחם tanchem, thy government shall be full of wise teaching: "Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of his times."

III. The effects of his blessing, and our praise.

1. "The earth shall yield her increase:" the people shall be multiplied; the harvests shall be ample, and the Church shall overflow with converts.

2. God shall bless this increase; for, without this, temporal blessings may become a curse. He doubles this that it may not be forgotten.

3. The last and finest effect is, that God shall be worshipped over all the earth: "All the ends of the earth shalt fear him." Amen. The fear of God is frequently Used to express the whole of his worship.