A Proper View and Desire for the World

Verses 1 - 3: The psalmist begins by praying a portion of the Aaronic blessing for Israel (). He is asking that God may view and act toward Israel with favor. He is asking for continuance of the warn personal relationship betwen Israel and her God. He understands all they have and can be is the sole result of God’s gracious blessing upon them. His covenant promise is what sustains them. His purpose however is not selfish gratification but for God’s glory. The psalmist desires this so all the world will know the Lord and His way. They will know He is the only God who can save. They will give honor to the God of Israel. This can be seen in the psalmist prayer that all the peoples will give Israel’s God praise. This anticipates the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise that all the families of the earth will be blessed through his seed (). Soon all nations and people will give heed to Yahweh.

Any and all blessings we receive the from the Lord, whether individually or collectively, are for the purpose of God’s glory. They are to point people to Him and not us (). Even as the ultimate desire of the psalm writer is to see God glorified, so the desire of every believer must be for their every word and deed to promote Christ and Him crucified, buried, resurrected. It must be for their saving relationship with the Savior God of heaven to be displayed publicly so the unbeliever to see and respond. The Lord’s blessing upon His people allow for His word to be spread and salvation to come. This is to the glory of God the Father.

Verses 4 - 5: The LORD is the ruler of nations. He is the sovereign God who oversees all things including nations. The LORD’s actions towards all the nations, including Israel, is always just and fair. He leads the nations according to His purposes and for His glory. This psalmist desires that the nations recognize Yahweh’s just rule, as his people make Him known, and that delight in Him. Acknowledgment of the just rule of the Lord should bring the praise of the nations to God whom alone is worthy of that praise.

Verses 6 - 7: The Lord has blessed the earth in demonstration of His providential care of the earth and His people. This again speaks of God’s blessing toward Israel and all nations. The psalmist closes by seeking God’s blessing upon the people of Israel so that all the peoples of the earth will honor the one true God, the God of Israel.