1 May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.
2 That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations,
Free Grace note
Blessed To Be A Blessing Notice the small word that in verse 2. God blesses us so that his way and salvation would reach every nation. This echoes the promise to Abraham, that in him all families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Grace was never meant to be hoarded. Some worry this makes our own blessing conditional, as if God only helps us if we perform as missionaries. Not so. The blessing comes first and freely; the outward reach is its natural overflow, not its price. God shines his face on you as a gift, and the light simply spreads. You are not the dead end of God's kindness. You are a window through which others glimpse it, and that never turns the gift into a wage you must earn.
3 let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
4 Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah.
Free Grace note
Judgment As Good News We usually flinch at the word judgment, but here the nations are told to be glad because of it. Why? Because God judges the peoples with equity and governs them rightly. For anyone ground down by crooked courts and cruel rulers, a perfectly fair King is the best news imaginable. This same hope runs to Revelation, where the nations walk in the light of the Lamb. Judgment for the believer is not a threat hanging over your assurance. Eternal life is already a settled possession by faith (1 John 5:13). The coming King does not review whether you kept your salvation; he sets the whole world right. So we can sing at the thought of him, not shrink from it.
5 Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
6 The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.
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