Explores God's sovereignty, emphasizing His covenant, salvation, blessings, and our call to praise Him with our lives.
Good morning, beloved! It's a joyous day, a day we've been gifted by our Father, and it's a day to revel in His word. Today, we find ourselves drawn to the beautiful tapestry of Psalms 67, a psalm that speaks to the heart of God's covenant with us, His call for our salvation, and the profound consequences of His blessings.
In the words of the esteemed Charles Spurgeon, "The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace." Ah, the sovereignty of God! It's an amazing, comforting, and humbling truth that weaves itself through every verse of Psalms 67.
Let's read this psalm together:
"May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.
God blesses us,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him."
Isn't it a stirring call to praise? A reminder of His blessings? A testament to His grace?
As we stand on the precipice of this new day, let's bow our heads in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for Your word, and for Your everlasting love. As we read and reflect on Psalms 67, we ask for Your guidance. Open our hearts to Your truth, deepen our understanding, and strengthen our commitment to You. Help us to see the beauty of Your covenant, the power of Your salvation, and the impact of Your blessings. May we praise You, not just with our lips, but with our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Let’s get started!
In the heart of Psalms 67, we find a profound truth. A truth that speaks of a relationship, a bond, a promise. It's a promise that God has made with us, His children. It's a promise that is not fleeting or temporary, but enduring and eternal. This promise, this bond, this relationship is what we can understand as a covenant.
A commitment: God's covenant with us is not like any earthly contract or agreement. It's not a negotiation or a transaction. It's a commitment. A commitment that God makes with us, and a commitment that we are invited to make with Him. This commitment is not based on our worthiness or our ability to uphold our end of the bargain. It's based on God's grace, His love, and His faithfulness.
Verse 1: When we read, "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us," we see a picture of God's covenantal commitment. God's grace, His blessings, and His favor are not rewards for our good behavior or our religious rituals. They are expressions of His covenantal commitment to us.
Our response to God's covenantal commitment: It’s not about earning His favor or avoiding His wrath. It's about recognizing His grace, receiving His blessings, and reflecting His love. It's about living in a way that makes His ways known on earth and His salvation known among all nations.
God's grace: Grace is a word that we often hear in church, but do we truly understand what it means? Grace is not just about forgiveness or mercy. It's about God's unmerited favor. It's about God choosing to bless us, not because we deserve it, but because He loves us. In Psalms 67, we see God's grace in His desire to bless us and make His face shine on us. This is not a blessing that we have earned or a favor that we have merited. It's a blessing that comes from God's grace, from His covenantal commitment to us.
God's blessings: When we think of blessings, we often think of material prosperity or physical health. But in the context of God's covenant, blessings have a deeper meaning.
Blessings are not just about what we receive from God. They are also about what we reflect of God. When God blesses us, He is not just giving us something. He is also making us something. He is making us a reflection of His grace, a testament to His love, and a beacon of His light.
God's guidance: In the psalm, we read, "for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth." This is not just about God's sovereignty or His control. It's about His guidance, His wisdom, and His direction. God's guidance is not about dictating our every move or controlling our every decision. It's about leading us in His ways, teaching us His truths, and shaping us in His image. It's about helping us to navigate the complexities of life, the challenges of faith, and the mysteries of His will.
God's salvation: In the psalm, we read, "so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations." This is not just about our personal salvation or our individual relationship with God. It's about God's plan for the whole world, His desire for all nations, and His heart for every people. God's salvation is not just about saving us from sin or delivering us from death. It's about bringing us into His kingdom, making us part of His family, and involving us in His mission. It's about transforming us from mere recipients of His grace into active participants in His plan.
As we continue to immerse ourselves in the richness of Psalms 67, we find ourselves drawn to the theme of salvation ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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