The psalmist calls everyone- the nations, all peoples to praise God.. What for?
What for? Before I answer that question, I cannot miss the fact that the psalm opens with a plea for God’s graciousness to be our experience.
1May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
At first, this might sound selfish. I am, personally, often disappointed when I ask persons to offer praises and they start making demands or bringing a shopping list to God. That makes it sounds as if God is just there to grant favours.
But now, when I study the request that the psalmist makes, “God be gracious to us and bless us…” I cannot miss that he states a justifiable purpose to his request.
“2that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.”
If our interest is in others knowing the ways of God and accepting access to God’s saving power, what a god-fearing world ours would be..And so, without apology, I join him and ask:
3Let the peoples praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
If we would only note the just ways of God who wants the best for each and for all, then we could rejoice in the justice we experience and call others to join in praise for that.:
4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
5Let the peoples praise you, O God.
let all the peoples praise you.
Indeed, were that the case, the result of our praise filled lives, then it would be the consequence- prosperity accompanied by peace, praise for the God who blesses, and God will indeed, bless us.
6The earth has yielded its increase.
God, our God, has blessed us.
7May God continue to bless us.
let all the ends of the earth revere him.