Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 67

God be merciful to us, and bless us - There is, perhaps (as Prof. Alexander suggests), an allusion in the language used here to the priestly benediction in Numbers 6:24-26: “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

The prayer is that God would bestow on his people the blessing implied in the form of benediction which he had directed the ministers of his religion to use.

The first cry is, of course, for mercy or favor. The beginning of all blessings to mankind is the favor or mercy of God. There is no higher blessing than his favor; there is none that comes from him which should not be regarded as mercy.

And cause his face to shine upon us - The margin reads, “With us.” That is, among us.

It is an invocation of his presence and favor. Regarding the phrase “cause his face to shine,” see the notes at Psalm 4:6.

That your way may be known upon earth — The law of God; the principles and methods of the divine administration; the way in which God rules humankind and in which he bestows his blessings on people. The prayer is that all the earth may become acquainted with the methods by which God deals with his people, or confers favors on them. The happiness of people depends on a knowledge of the principles on which God bestows his favors, for all people are, in all things, dependent on him.

The success of a farmer depends on his understanding and complying with the laws and principles on which God bestows a harvest; the preservation of health, the restoration of health when we are sick, depends on a knowledge of the great laws which God has ordained for the continuance of the healthy functions of our bodies, and on the use of the means which he has provided for restoring health when those functions are disordered; and, similarly, the salvation of the soul depends on the right understanding of the method which God has appointed to secure his favor. In neither of these cases — indeed, in no case — is it the responsibility of people to originate laws of their own: laws for the cultivation of the earth, for the preservation of health, or for the saving of the soul.

The task of humankind is to find out the rules in accordance with which God bestows his favors, and then to act in obedience to them. The psalmist here supposes that there are certain rules or principles by which God bestows blessings on humankind, and he prays that those rules and principles may be made known everywhere on the earth.

Your saving health among all nations — The original word here rendered “saving health” is “salvation.” It is with great uniformity so rendered. It is indeed translated “welfare” in (Job 30:15); “help” in (Psalms 3:2) and (Psalms 42:5); “deliverance” in (Psalms 18:50), (Psalms 44:4), and (Isaiah 26:18); “helping” in (Psalms 22:1); and “health” in (Psalms 42:11); but elsewhere it is in all cases rendered “salvation.” The words “saving health” were adopted from an older version, but no argument should be founded on them. The word “salvation” expresses all that there is in the original; and the prayer is that the method by which God confers salvation on people may be made known throughout all lands. Assuredly, no more appropriate prayer could be offered than that all humanity may become acquainted with the way in which God saves sinners.

Let the people praise thee, O God - May you incline them to praise you: a prayer that all people might so understand the character and ways of God, and might have such a sense of his claims upon them, as to lead them to praise him.

Let all the people praise thee - The people of all lands. See the notes at (Psalms 22:27). Compare (Psalms 66:4).

O let the nations be glad, and sing for joy — All the nations of the earth. Let them all be made acquainted with you; with your character; with the principles of your government; with the methods by which you bestow your favors, so that they all may be made glad. These things pertain to them all. The knowledge of these things would convey inestimable blessings to them all, and fill all their hearts with joy. Nothing would, in fact, diffuse so much happiness over a miserable and guilty world — nothing would furnish such an occasion for universal joy, gratitude, and praise — as the possession of the knowledge of the great principles on which God rules the world, and on which he blesses people.

For thou shalt judge the people righteously — That is, the great principles of your administration are right, or righteous. And the nations will have occasion to rejoice in them.

And, govern the nations upon earth — Margin, lead. So the Hebrew. That is, God would instruct them what to do; he would guide them in paths of prosperity, happiness, salvation. Individuals and nations, as they follow the counsels of God, are safe and happy; and in no other way.

Let the people praise thee ... - See (Psalms 67:5). The repetition shows that this was the principal thought in the mind of the author of the psalm. It expresses an earnest - an intense - desire, that all nations should acknowledge God as the true God, and praise him for his mercies.