Bible Commentaries

Psalms 67:1 « To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song. » God be merciful unto us, and bless us; [and] cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

Ver. 1. God be merciful unto us] sc. In sending his Son, and calling his elect, both among Jews and Gentries, to the participation of that gift, John 4:10; that benefit, 1 Timothy 6:2.

And bless us] Specially with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 1:3.

And cause his face to shine upon us] Giving us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 4:6, who is the brightness (or glittering refulgency, απαυγασμα) of his Father’s glory and the express image of his person, Hebrews 1:3, the dayspring from on high, Luke 1:78, Sereno suo vultu nos irradiet (Beza). In this prayer the psalmist plainly alludeth to that blessing pronounced upon the people by the high priest, Numbers 6:23-27, and showeth that all cometh from Christ, the true Aaron, the High Priest of the new covenant.

Psalms 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

Ver. 2. That thy way may be known] Thy way of worship, that way that is called holy, the gospel, Acts 19:23; Acts 18:25-26, the way of salvation, Acts 16:17.

Thy saving health] That is, thy Christ, Luke 2:30; Luke 2:32.

Psalms 67:3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

Ver. 3. Let the people praise thee, O God] Enlarge the bounds of thy Church; and bring in the hallelujahs of the Gentiles also. Let them praise thee (that pronoun "thee" is emphatic and exclusive), and not their gods of gold and silver. Let them turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 1 Thessalonians 1:9.

Psalms 67:4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.

Ver. 4. O let the nations be glad, &c.] As they cannot but be upon their sound conversion, Acts 8:8, there being no such joy as the joy of faith, and that a man’s name is written in heaven. Beatus Ludovicus would be called Ludovicus de Pissiaco rather than take greater titles; because there he became a Christian.

For thou shalt judge the people righteously, &c.] Not rigorously, keeping thy Church in safety amidst the greatest ruins of the world and cotlisions of empires.

And govern the nations upon earth. Selah] Heb. Thou shalt gently lead them, as a shepherd doth his flock or a father his child. Lord, hasten it.

Psalms 67:5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

Ver. 5. Versus amoibaeus. See Psalms 67:3.

Psalms 67:6 [Then] shall the earth yield her increase; [and] God, [even] our own God, shall bless us.

Ver. 6. Then shall the earth yield her increase] Omnia opera nostra erunt prospera, All shall go well with us, and we shall abound with blessings of both lives. The gospel is a cornucopia; and they that receive it shall have all that heart can wish or need require; all creatures shall conspire to make them happy. The earth, which was cursed for man’s sin, and hath lain bedridden, as it were, ever since, shall put forth her utmost strength for good people’s use. God will hear the heavens, and the heavens shall hear the earth, &c., Hosea 2:21-22, when once men’s hearts bear fruit to the Lord, Matthew 13:19; Matthew 13:23, Hebrews 6:7. Jerome interpreteth these words of the Virgin Mary bringing forth the child Jesus. Others thus, Then shall the earth bring forth innumerable servants of God.

Psalms 67:7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Ver. 7. God shall bless us] God is thrice named here and in the former verse, to note the trinity of persons, as Ramban wrote, In more Nevochim, and had, therefore, his book burnt by the Jews in France. And whereas it is thrice here said "God shall bless us," it importeth that the blessings here meant are more than terrene and bodily blessings.