Psalm 67: Blessed to be a Blessing

Today’s reading is Psalm 67.

Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV)

Yesterday, I claimed this week’s psalmist brings together three strands of thought. The first was the Aaronic blessing. The second is the Abrahamic promise.

This psalm begs God to bless Israel not for Israel’s own sake, but in order to bring a blessing to all the nations. Through Israel all nations may learn of God’s saving power. Through Israel, all the nations on earth will be blessed. That was exactly the message of God’s promises to Abraham. “I will bless you, so that you will be a blessing.”

God blessed Israel, not to play favorites. He blessed them to establish a pipeline. By blessing Israel, He would ultimately bless all nations.

Of course, most of us are from “all nations” and not from Israel. This psalm is all about us. Because God blessed Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve tribes of Israel, we have received blessing. At the same time, we are the spiritual Israel. We, in Christ, are the offspring of Abraham. God has blessed us in Jesus so we may pass that blessing on to others as well.

Let’s seek God’s blessing, but not simply so we may be blessed. Let us seek God’s blessing so we may bring the blessing to others.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 67.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 67 admonish you?