_A prayer for the enlargement of God’s kingdom, to the joy of the
people, and the increase of God’s blessings._
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm _or_ Song.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; _and_ cause his face to shine
upon us. Selah.
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all
nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
O let the nations be glad, and sing for joy; for thou shalt judge the
people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
_Then_ shall the earth yield her increase; _and_ God, even our God,
shall bless us.
God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
This is a prophecy concerning the kingdom of Christ; foretelling, that
it should be a spiritual kingdom, in which grace and the remission of
sins should be proclaimed, not only in Judea, but throughout all
nations. “Let the people praise thee, O God, yea let all the people
praise thee; for thou judgest the people righteously, &c.” That is,
thou reignest, by the Gospel, throughout all nations: thou judgest
all: (that is, all sinners in the hypocrisy of nature,) that they may
be brought to give thanks unto thee for thy mercy, and may rejoice,
and praise the blessings of the gospel.
This sacrifice of praise, this offering of thanks, is the highest
worship of God, and is a sacrifice truly acceptable unto him, (as we
have continually observed;) for David does not here say, ‘The nations
shall become proselytes, and shall be circumcised, and shall flock to
Jerusalem:’ but “The nations shall remain uncircumcised, and shall,
nevertheless, sing praises unto God, and shall laud and magnify him:”
that is, the gospel shall be preached among all nations, and the
kingdom of Christ shall arise, the kingdom of grace and of the mercy
of God.