God is Gracious

Psalm 67:1 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us”

How many times have I failed and then prayed for God’s Grace and Mercy. You need only ask my wife and she could tell you all of the ways I have failed. Like the Lord, my wife has shown me much grace.

There is a common pattern in the heart that desires God—it first looks to His grace and for those who are repentant, they receive mercy.

Why is grace so necessary?

For those who know their position in light of God’s Holiness, that knowledge brings greater significance to their actions. The world doesn’t have this knowledge. Believers know the consequence of sin because the Spirit brings it to light.

1 Corinthians 15:34 “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”

It is up to believers to bring to light those in darkness and that is accomplished by sharing the gospel.

After Grace

How can people ask for blessing if they stand in a position of enmity before God?

How can God bless those who make sin their practice?

Blessing begins by being made acceptable before the Father….this is only accomplished through the Son.

Romans 5:19 “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

To those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, the curse of sin has been broken. The hope that awaits God’s people is a hope that has begun with a promise. The Holy Spirit of promise has already been given, the glory of God’s people is found in the One who was glorified already—Jesus Christ.

God’s Purpose

The ‘Why’ of God’s grace, blessing, and acceptance is revealed further in the Psalm.

Psalm 67:2 “that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.”

God redeems His people, blesses them, and then makes them acceptable so that they might be a testimony to the nations.

How often in this culture of prosperity gospel teaching do people think that God’s blessings are only meant for their edification? Scripture reveals differently when examined through the lens of God’s purpose.

Isaiah 8:16-18 “Bind up the testimony,
Seal the law among my disciples.
And I will wait on the Lord,
Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;
And I will hope in Him.
Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the Lord of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion.”

God’s people are living proof of God’s majesty.

The transformation that God makes in the heart of a sinner reveals so much to the world.

1. When the Spirit enters the life of a believer they become less conformed to the world(Rom. 12:2). The world notices and that testimony becomes their witness.
2. The mind becomes renewed from a position of worldly reason to spiritual discernment and understanding.
3. Contentment resides with the righteous. They are satisfied with God’s goodness and seek His purposes, not their own. (1 Tim. 6:6)
4. Love (agape) for one another becomes possible. (Jn.13:34)
5. A hunger for the Word drives the deep longing of their soul. (Ps.119:16)

Simply by following the Spirit, the believer shows their life is different. When people ask what has changed, it then becomes an opportunity for discipleship.

Praise Given

Psalm 67:3,4 “Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples justly and lead the nations of the earth.

Why should all the people’s praise Him?

Because God does not judge unjustly.

God is fair in His estimation of people, who holds everyone to the same standard of His law, and He gives each person the opportunity to be redeemed from death.

He knows who will respond, and yet the call goes out—Let all the peoples praise you!

Does the world know how good God really is?

The world cannot know unless God’s people tell them. The law reveals the position of the sinner, Jesus is then exalted for the grace He provides.

Romans 10:16-18 “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:

“Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world.”

The Harvest

Why should the people rejoice?

Psalm 67:5 “Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.

Because God is deserving of praise. He is faithful to His people and blesses them upon the earth.

Psalm 67:6-7 “Then the earth shall yield her increase;
God, our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us,
And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”

The harvest of blessing reveals God’s sovereign control over the earth. Believers are not left as orphans but God moves among them, leading them in the increase.

All those who walk with God know His blessings will follow and those blessings are a reminder of who is on the Throne.