Psalm 67:1–2: “God be merciful [gracious] to us and bless us, / And cause His face to shine upon us. / Selah / That Your way may be known on earth, / Your salvation among all nations.”

March 13th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

David was clearly asking God for good things, which is in accordance with His will. God desires to bless our lives so that we will be a witness of His nature and love to others. David, being a king himself, understood that when a king smiled with pleasure (face shined) on someone who brought a request, they were likely to receive that request. These verses echo the threefold blessing found in Numbers 6:24–26, given by God to Moses to be spoken over the children of God.

The phrase, “That Your way may be known on earth,” is the underlying reason, besides His love, that God blesses our lives with good gifts and benefits. It is important that we do not appeal to our own fleshly selfishness. Notice David was NOT saying, “Bless me so that I can be comfortable and not have to work hard to make a living.” He was NOT saying, “Bless me so that I will be successful in the eyes of the world and that others will be envious of me.” Interestingly, David wasn’t even saying, “Bless me so that I can bless others.” It is true that God blesses us and gifts us so that we might serve and be a blessing to others, but this is not the primary, core reason for God’s blessings on our lives. God’s prime reason for blessing us is so that we can display, or make a way for it to “be known on earth,” just who God really is. When we exhibit His goodness, mercy, and love, some of the watching world sees and desires the same for their own lives.

Someone said life would be more pleasant if we could forget our troubles as easily as we forget our blessings. Composer Irving Berlin told a funny story about how he composed one of his popular songs. One night, during a spell of insomnia, his wife suggested he try counting his blessings instead of sheep. “The suggestion hit me just right,” he related. “I got up at once and wrote ‘Count Your Blessings.’ Lyric and music came to me with almost no effort. About 4 a.m. I went back to bed. But I still couldn’t sleep!”

“LORD, we think on and pause to consider the great blessings You have poured out on our lives. You truly are good. Help us to correctly display who You are to those around us so that they will desire You in their lives.”