#DailyDevotions The LORD Always Was An Evangelistic God
Psalm 66 Shout with joy to God, everyone on earth. 2Sing about the glory of His name; glorify Him with praise. 3Tell God, “How awesome are the things You do! Your power is so great Your enemies cringe before You. 4The whole world should bow to You, sing to You, and praise Your name.”
All the earth is called to shout with joy to God. Everyone is invited to sing about the glory of the Name of God with praise, namely today, the name of Jesus. Old Testament Israel was never meant to be held up in a corner of the world by itself. It was to be a witness to the nations of the name of God. They were to be a witness to the saving power of God. The LORD had placed Israel there on the land bridge between the great nations surrounding them so that as people traveled to bring business from one nation to another, they would pass through God’s people and learn of the greatness of the LORD and bring His name back to their countries.
It didn’t always work like that and indeed, Israel and Judah ended up adopting the wicked ways of the nations instead of the other way around. Eventually though, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to Israel. In Him, God established the Gospel, the free forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God through faith in Jesus. And from this spot through which the nations would have passed, He sent out His apostles with this good news into the world, inviting the nations to do the very thing David does here, to shout with joy to God and sing the glory of His name, to glorify the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
5Come and see what God has done. What He does for people is awesome: 6He changed the sea to dry land, and they went through the river on foot. So let us delight in Him. 7By His power the everlasting One rules; His eyes watching the nations to keep rebels from rising against Him. (Music) 8Bless our God, O you nations! Let all hear how you praise Him; 9for He kept us alive and didn’t let our feet slip.
David could point the nations to the salvific work of the LORD in saving His people. He points out how the LORD delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians having them walk through the Red Sea on dry ground. He drove out the nations in the land of Canaan to make room for His people. He keeps the nations from rebelling against Him. He does not allow them to unite themselves against Him as they did at the tower of Babel.
Our God is indeed awesome and we the Church invite the nations to join us in songs of praise. For the LORD became man, took on human flesh. In this flesh He suffered and died for the sin of the world. Jesus, the LORD, took upon Himself the punishment we deserve for our sins. He willingly took death into Himself and suffered it for our sake. He rose from the dead and in that act demonstrated His conquering sin, death and the power of the devil for our sake and for the sake of all people everywhere. As the Israelites passed through the sea on dry ground to be delivered from the Egyptians, so too, we passed through baptism to become the people of God.
The LORD kept the Israelites alive and did not let their feet slip. He brought them into the land of Canaan and delivered it to His people Israel, the land He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The LORD Jesus Christ promises us that no one can take us out of His hand. No one can take us out of the Father’s hand. He will bring us into the New Heavens and New Earth. He will drive out the nations who would not receive Him as their King and Savior. The meek, i.e. His people, the Christians will inherit the earth.
Heavenly Father, grant that we may fulfill Your will, proclaiming the name of Jesus, inviting the nations to join in our hymn of praise of His salvation for all people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.