The Good Life
Opening Prayer
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me” (Psa. 13:6). Sing your praise to God.
Read Psalm 67:1-7
[1] For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us- [2] so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. [3] May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. [4] May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. [5] May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. [6] The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. [7] May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What seems to be the main desire of the psalmist here?This wonderful psalm, in the form of a prayer, gives us a vision of how things should be–and one day will be. On the one hand, we have a vision of what God will do. He pours out his blessings on all people, and he smiles upon them (1). He rules and guides the nations justly (4). As a result, his ways and his salvation are known across the face of the earth (2). To this generous blessing the peoples of the earth respond with heartfelt praise and worship (3-5). And there’s a wonderful result of this generous blessing and joyful response. The whole created world will enter into renewed and restored fruitfulness: “the land will yield its harvest … and all the ends of the earth will fear him” (6,7). One day, all of God’s wonderful creation will be healed and restored. The Jewish feast of Pentecost was the day when the first fruits of the harvest were celebrated. The gift of God’s Spirit is the “first fruits” (Rom. 8:23) of the restoration of all things, of God’s final glorious harvest.
Apply
Praise God that you’re part of his harvest, and have your part to play in bringing in the rest of it.
Closing prayer
Lord God of the harvest, enable me to faithfully play my part in Your great and good harvest, I pray.
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