Psalm 67

Over the years I have donated to several organizations such that my mailbox almost always contains a “Thank You” for my support and a “Plea” to give more. I am amused because there is no way I can contribute to all the organizations that send out these mailings. Two of my favorite charities are St. Jude’s Hospital and Shriner’s Hospital for Children. In the latter’s television commercials, a young boy named Kaleb’s smile and personality have captured my attention. Another boy, Alex tells would-be donors that with a monthly gift of ($19?) they will receive an “adoable” blanket with the Shriner’s bear on it. Kaleb and Alex have won me over and I would give regularly if I could, not to get the blanket, but to make certain the Shriner’s good work with children continues. In Psalm 67 I see a “Thank You” and a Plea.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be made known upon earth, Your saving power among all nations.

Let the people praise You, O God, let all the peoples praise You.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.

Let the peoples praise You, O God, let all the peoples praise You.

The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere Him.

The Psalmist recognizes how God has blessed him/them and in response he/they praise God. He invites all the peoples to praise God. He calls upon them to be glad and sing for joy because God judges all with equity and guides the nations. So, while thanking and praising God for what God has already done, the Psalmist issues a plea … asking God to continue to bless them. Are not our prayers filled with thanksgiving and supplication too? We praise and thank God for what God has done and we ask God to continue to bless us.

Prayer

O God, Source of all we are and all we have, we give You thanks and praise for all the ways You have blessed us. We also ask You to continue to bless us. We recognize this as a cycle and so we pray that we may always give praise and thanks, even as we continue to ask Your blessings upon us. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.