Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 67:1

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us, [And] cause his face to shine upon us; Selah" — Psalms 67:1 (ASV)

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.