Psalm 67

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

¹ May God be gracious to us and bless us
       and make his face shine upon us,
       Selah

² that your ways may be known on earth,
       your salvation among all nations.

³ May the peoples praise you, O God;
       may all the peoples praise you.

⁴ May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
       for you rule the peoples justly
       and guide the nations of the earth.
       Selah

⁵ May the peoples praise you, O God;
       may all the peoples praise you.

⁶ Then the land will yield its harvest,
       and God, our God, will bless us.

⁷ God will bless us,
       and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

A psalm of blessing- of justice- of harvest- of plenty.

I need to stay within the compass of  God’s shining, smiling face-

to focus upon it like the flowers do the sunshine.  To bathe within His blessing like the garden does within the gentle rain.  And to dwell within the praise due to Him as Maker, Preserver and Saviour of all mankind- but especially as MY Saviour and the Lifter of my Head.

I’ve been depressed lately, a dear friend’s son recently died after a very long battle with cancer.  At only 33, he was only a year older than my eldest son, and yet they dealt with this debilitating disease for most of his life.  He didn’t marry, had no children, and left behind his grieving mother and father and siblings.  And yet, his mother’s testimony is one of love and courage and God’s goodness.

I think I have dealt with death my entire life, I lost two sisters and my father at young ages.  I have spent a lot of time working out the devastation left in my life at their seemingly untimely deaths, yet I have never lost a child.

And yet, all of this loss still comes under the scrutiny and allowance of our gracious heavenly Father.  The Father of blessing- our God of the Shining Face.

I don’t understand, but I do trust.

I can’t explain, but I do believe.

Sometimes I wish I could banish all doubts and pain and we could talk about God’s blessing without having to reference the sorrow of life.

Instead I call out, ” I believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9: 24)

and  raise my face for His blessing.