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Day 275

Psalm 67:1a "God be merciful to us and bless us..."

Day 275 – Psalm 67

“God be merciful to us and bless us…” Psalm 67:1a

SUPERSCRIPTION

To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

1. Standard feature

This psalm is consigned to the care of the Chief Musician. However the author is unnamed.

2. Special instructions

a) On stringed instruments
This psalm is to be actually sung with string accompaniment.
b) A Psalm. A Song
A psalm is not necessarily a song. A psalm could be read or spoken. This particular psalm is to be rendered as a song.
c) Unfortunately we do not have any means of figuring out its tune.

PLEADING THE MERCY OF GOD

Which comes first? Mercy or blessing? The following text offers a solution to this question.

“God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us.”
Psalm 67:1

1. “God be merciful to us”

a) Mercy comes first.
b) The psalmist acknowledges that we stand in need of God’s mercy because of our sinfulness.

2. “And bless us”

a) It is natural to desire God’s blessings.
b) It is correct to seek God’s blessings in humble prayer.

3. “And cause His face to shine upon us”

a) This thought is similar to the old Aaronic benediction pronounced on Israel (Numbers 6:22-27).
b) It makes all the difference when God’s face (countenance) shines upon us.