Psalm 67 (NIV)

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

¹May God be gracious to us and bless us

  and make his face shine on us—[b]

²so that your ways may be known on earth,

  your salvation among all nations.

³May the peoples praise you, God;

  may all the peoples praise you.

⁴May the nations be glad and sing for joy,

  for you rule the peoples with equity

  and guide the nations of the earth.

⁵May the peoples praise you, God;

  may all the peoples praise you.

⁶The land yields its harvest;

  God, our God, blesses us.

⁷May God bless us still,

  so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

1. Receiving the blessing of God.

May God be gracious to us and bless us… make his face shine upon us.

²²The Lord said to Moses, ²³“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; ²⁶the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’ ²⁷“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:22–27 (NIV)

2. Displaying the blessing of God.

That your ways may be known on earth… among all nations

“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. Genesis 12:2 (NIV)

You become like what you worship. When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of your worship. -- N.T. Wright, Simply Christian

▪ our community ▪ the community

3. The action and awe of praise.

May the people praise you… may all the peoples praise you

“ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” ¹¹“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:8,11 (NIV)

▪ attention ▪ wonder ▪ expression