Year 1, Week 38, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 38, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Psalm 20, 65-67, 69.

Today’s reading consists of five Psalms: three of the Psalms (20, 65, and 69) are attributed to David, while the other two have no author listed. Psalm 20 coincides with the military battles that are reported in the current readings from 2 Samuel 8-10, and 1 Chronicles 18-19. Psalm 20 asks the LORD to make the king victorious in battle: “Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:6-7). Psalms 65-67 all seem to have an interconnection to each other. They each are filled with praise to the LORD for answered prayer: “Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come” (Psalm 65:1-2). The answered prayer is stated in the preceding Psalm: “But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly” (Psalm 64:7). The LORD has answered the prayers pertaining to the defeat of enemies. Psalms 66 and 67 continue with the notes of praise, but an added focus is stated: “Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!” (Psalm 66:1-2); and “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” (Psalm 67:3). The call to praise the LORD as well as the petition before the LORD concerns all the nations praising the LORD. Psalm 69 previews a theme that emerges after further readings from 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the desire for the LORD’s praise to exist among all the nations: "Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth” (Psalm 67:4). David’s military battles had led to the defeat of many of the nations that neighbored Israel. David prayed for victory in battle; obtained victory in battles; and thanked the LORD for victory in battle. But as David considered his defeated neighbors, he prayed the special blessing that the LORD told Moses to have the Levites say over Israel: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). David desired for the blessings that were upon Israel to have bearing upon all peoples: “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations” (Psalm 67:1-2). David realized that his work entailed more than the defeat of the nations around Israel. David knew that Israel had a mission to the nations that would result in all the world knowing the LORD.

Israel was chosen to be blessed by the LORD. But Israel was to be the conduit, not the terminus, of the LORD’s blessings. Israel’s patriarch, Abraham, was given promise and commission: “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 12:2-3). In the immediate aftermath of their rescue from Egyptian captivity, Israel was assured of their special relationship with the LORD, but also a commission: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:4-6a). The glory of God, which was the source of the blessings upon Israel, is designed to be experience throughout all the earth, among all the nations: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). The blessings upon Israel were to result in a global love and reverence for the LORD: "God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!” (Psalm 67:7).

With the plans for the building of the Temple soon approaching in Israel, we will see even more clearly that Jerusalem was to be a place where all the nations would come and see the goodness of the LORD. But Israel will fail to carry out their commission. However, Jesus will not fail, for He is the resurrected LORD, whose Spirit fills the church to carry out a global assignment: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). The blessings of salvation are experienced through the preaching of the Gospel: "to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:5b-6). Furthermore, Jesus will not fail, for His work on the Cross has guaranteed the global blessings: "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe