Blessed to be a blessing
The psalmist asks for God’s blessing, but not as an end in itself. The blessing has a purpose: so that God’s ways are known on earth and His salvation among all nations.
Whatever you received from God this week, whether peace, provision or forgiveness, it was never meant to stop with you. Ask Him today who needs to see His face shining through you.
Gracious God, bless me and make Your face shine on me, so that others may come to know Your ways. Let what You give me overflow to someone else today. Amen.
דַּרְכֶּךָ (darkekha (dar-KEH-kha)). “Your way.” Derekh is a road or path, and also a person’s manner of life. The psalm prays that God’s whole way of living, not only a message, would be known across the earth.
Psalm 67 echoes the priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord make his face shine on you.” The psalm takes that blessing for Israel and opens it toward every nation. Its mention of the earth yielding its harvest (verse 6) has made it a favorite at harvest thanksgivings.
Presbyterian missionary Bruce Hunt was arrested by Japanese forces in Manchuria. He was held for 45 days, re-arrested after Pearl Harbor, and eventually freed in a prisoner exchange.