In the early stages of God’s redemptive activity among mankind, he calls a man named Abram, making him a two-fold promise: that he will bless him and that he will bless all the families of the earth through him. The first half of this promise begins to realize its fulfillment in the growth and prosperity of the nation of Israel. But throughout much of Old Testament history, it remains unclear how or when the second half of this promise might be fulfilled.
Yet despite this lack of clarity, there is evidence that God’s people never forgot that they had been set apart to be a conduit of blessing for the entire world. One such piece of evidence is Psalm 67. In this psalm, the traditional priestly blessing calling for the favor of God’s countenance (see Numbers 6:22-27) is taken and tied directly to God’s purposes for the nations (vv. 1-2). This introductory tone is then followed up by an appeal for all the nations and peoples to find gladness in God, praising him with both fear and joy (vv. 3-5). Then, in conclusion, the psalm reiterates its request for God’s blessing, uniting it once again with an invitation for the ends of the earth to join in worship (vv. 6-7). Taken as a whole, this psalm reinforces the Israelite confidence in a God whose plans are bigger than Israel itself.
Of particular note in this psalm are three terms, each laden with meaning: nations, peoples, and ends of the earth. These terms appear throughout the Psalter, often interchangeably, and often in similar contexts calling for praise and worship from people beyond the borders of Israel. Nearly every line of Psalm 67 contains some form of one of these terms, highlighting their importance.
So what do these words mean? And what light does their meaning shed on the text itself?
As numerous missiologists and scholars have been pointing out in recent years, these words refer to relatively small groups of individuals united by language, culture, caste, history, etc.—commonly referred to as “people groups.” Much could be said about this, but John Piper’s summary is helpful:
What unites a ‘people’ in the way the Bible uses the term peoples is not mainly location, but culture, including things like language and customs, as well as physical features. ‘Nations’ and ‘peoples’ in the Bible don’t refer to political states like America, Spain, Brazil, China, but to ethnic or language or cultural groupings in these political states.
Given such a definition, we are often able to identify a large number of people groups within a single country. (India alone has some 2,500 people groups within its borders.) So when we read texts like Psalm 67, we need to be thinking in terms of people groups rather than political nations or states.
This understanding of these biblical terms helps us appreciate what Scripture means when it speaks about all nations or all peoples or the ends of the earth praising God. It means that God intends to receive worship from the 16,500 people groups in existence today—nearly 7,000 of which have little or no gospel presence. It means that every ethnicity and language and culture and caste is expected to render unto God his due praise. It means that the blessing of God’s redemptive activity is not to be contained by borders.
But the remarkable thing about Psalm 67 is that we later discover that its call will be ultimately answered. This reality is seen in Revelation 7, where John witnesses before the throne of the Lamb “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.” In other words, what we see in Revelation is that all the peoples will praise God, all the nations will be glad, and all the ends of the earth will fear him. It is as certain as the very word of God.
In light of this hope, all that remains for us is to go. The missionary task is not an impossible one; our success is guaranteed. God will cause all peoples to worship him. He will redeem from every tribe, tongue, and nation. He is capable, he is willing, and he is he has clearly promised to follow through.
The church’s job is simply to go forth by the power of God’s Spirit and rouse these would-be worshippers from their present slumber, holding high the gospel of grace. Through this global ministry of reconciliation, God will allow the nations to find complete gladness in him.
