Psalm 67 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 67 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
Verse 2that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.
Verse 3Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
Verse 4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Verse 5Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
Verse 6The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us.
Verse 7May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.
Devotion
During this pandemic, how can we not notice this verse from today’s psalm: ”Let your way be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations.” Saving health. Thanks be to God for all of the healthcare workers risking their lives to keep us safe and healthy. Often, healthcare workers are the only physical-in-the-room presence for the very ill. We pray and wait for a vaccine for this deadly virus. And while we wait and pray, let’s notice also the phrase “among all nations.” This could be a theme for this week—all. God commands us to remember we (the global “we”) are all in this together. National boundaries just don’t seem to matter to the One who showers all of creation with mercy and blessing. Saving health only works, in God’s eyes, if all nations experience saving health. So when our saving health is aided by a vaccine, may it find its way to all nations.
Prayer
Dear merciful God, bless me with good health today so that I might be a blessing to others. Amen.