Friday 4 August, 2017

For the director of music. A psalm. A song to be played on stringed instruments. 1 God, have mercy on us and bless us. May you be pleased with us. 2 Then your ways will be known on earth. All nations will see that you have the power to save. 3 God, may the nations praise you. May all the people on earth praise you. 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy. You rule the people of the earth fairly. You guide the nations of the earth. 5 God, may the nations praise you. May all the people on earth praise you. 6 The land produces its crops. God, our God, blesses us. 7 May God continue to bless us. Then people from one end of the earth to the other will have respect for him.

It’s amazing what a difference one word can make. “Then…” v6. Such a simple word yet so important. It links the promise with how to get the promise. It shows that praise precedes blessing.

But there is so much more to it than that. Verse 2 talks about God’s saving power and that this salvation is available to everyone – not just to Jewish people. That’s the reason for the praise. It’s Jesus Himself. He is the “how” – how God has redeemed us and rescued us. But not just us – all of creation, all of the earth, everything that was under sin’s curse (see Colossians 1:20). Jesus died and rose from the dead and rescued everything! And as if that wasn’t enough, when we respond to this audacious grace with faith and praise the blessings from God continue to flow.

Oh God of grace and mercy, thank you for Jesus. My savour and redeemer of everything. I fall to my knees and give You praise.   Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen