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Psalm 67

Psalm 67 links God’s blessing of his people with the nations knowing his salvation and rejoicing under his just rule.

A worshiping community asks God for mercy and blessing so that his way and salvation will be known among all nations. The heading assigns the song to the Chief Musician with stringed instruments; its author and occasion are unnamed. A repeated call for all peoples to praise God surrounds a celebration of his fair judgment and rule. The closing verses acknowledge the earth’s harvest and look toward worldwide reverence for God.

praise and worshipgratitudesermon or Bible study notes
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1For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.
2That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations,
3let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
4Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah.
6The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us.
7God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected. Tap a number for its page.
Key verses
Psalm 67:1The opening prayer seeks God’s mercy and favor, establishing the blessing whose purpose reaches all nations in the next verse.
Psalm 67:4At the song’s center, the nations have cause for joy because God judges with equity and governs the earth.
Psalm 67:6The earth’s harvest makes blessing concrete, grounding the closing confidence that God will bless his people.
Where this chapter reaches

The opening prayer shares the language of blessing and a shining face with Numbers, while its worldwide scope echoes the promise in Genesis that blessing through Abraham would reach all families. Isaiah shares the vision of God’s salvation reaching the nations and drawing their praise.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

How does the purpose stated in verse 2 shape your understanding of the opening prayer for blessing?

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What about God’s judgment and rule in verse 4 could give the nations cause to sing?

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Questions people ask about Psalm 67

Who wrote Psalm 67, and was it a harvest song?

Psalm 67 names no author. Its heading identifies it as a psalm and song for the Chief Musician, with stringed instruments. Verse 6 acknowledges that the earth has produced a harvest, which may suggest a harvest celebration. The text does not identify a particular festival or historical occasion.

What does God’s face shining mean in Psalm 67?

The phrase “cause his face to shine on us” pictures God’s favor toward his people. It stands beside requests for mercy and blessing, echoing the blessing in Numbers. Verse 2 states the purpose of this prayer: that God’s way and salvation may become known throughout the earth.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).