Unfolding theme of Gods concern for peoples of the World
Put them in fear, O Lord!
Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah
For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before you.
28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
Save us, O Lord our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
117 Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
Psalms: God Who Is Worthy of the Worship of the Nations
Before examining the Psalms, we note several important texts from the historical books that originate in or describe the same approximate time frame as the Psalms. First Chronicles 16 records David’s bringing of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. The song of thanksgiving (which is echoed in several psalms) calls Israel to make known the works of the Lord among the peoples (v. 8), to sing to the earth and proclaim his salvation (v. 23), and to tell of his glory among the nations (v. 24). The earth is to fear God (v. 30), and the nations are to know that the Lord reigns (v. 31).
When Solomon dedicates the temple, his prayer reflects the understanding of Israel’s drawing the nations to God:
As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name—for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. (1 Kings 8:41–43)
It is assumed that foreigners, that is, Gentiles, will come to pray in the temple. Answered prayers from the temple should further cause the nations to fear God (cf. Isa. 56:7). First Kings 10:1–13 recounts the queen of Sheba coming to Solomon, seeking his wisdom, and both blessing God and giving great gifts. Second Kings 5 relates the story of the Aramean army captain Naaman, who experiences healing and acknowledges the universal reign of Israel’s God (v. 15). These might be considered types or forerunners of the Gentiles being attracted to Israel and recognizing the greatness of Israel’s God.
The Psalms provide us with the hymnbook of the Old Testament. Here we discover the glory and greatness of the Lord in relation to the nations. God is sovereign over all peoples and nations (e.g., Pss. 22:28; 47:8; 82:8), his glory extends “to the ends of the world” (19:4), and all the peoples have seen it (97:6). Numerous prayers call for God to manifest his glory in all the earth (e.g., Pss. 57:5, 11; 72:19; 108:5).
The Psalms pick up the theme of the Abrahamic blessing to the nations. In Psalm 67, God is called upon to bless Israel with the intention that the blessing be passed on. Israel becomes the means of blessing the nations. God’s election and blessing of Israel clearly has the nations in view. Note the structure of this psalm.