April 30th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Psalm 67

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us.

Reflection
Imagine the gathering of the people before the priest. This was the Feast of Tabernacles, a joyous occasion of late summer early autumn when Israel would gather to celebrate with thanksgiving the blessings that God has given with the harvest.

We gather to live in booths under God's protection and blessing that he graciously gives to his people. This was a great time when all nations came together with Israel in celebration of God.

The priest blesses us with the same words that God had instructed Moses to use when the priests would bless the people. A blessing we still hear in churches today before the sending. "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us." Wow! What a blessing. Can't you feel the warm glow of God upon your face while you stand before the priest and receive this blessing?

In this blessing we pray that God's saving power be known to all people. We pray that God would use us to make his saving power known. We have been richly blessed and respond with joy and thanksgiving as a people. Our joy goes beyond our individual lives to the corporate life of the "peoples." We are a part of something greater than ourselves and we are happy about this. We are happy that God would save "peoples."

In this blessing we respond as "peoples" in song and praise and honor to God for his saving grace.

"May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him."

Prayer
Lord, your face warms the face of your people and we respond in song and praise. You are our God and you have richly blessed your people... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen