The Hymn of North Wake
Read: Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
In 1524, after Martin Luther had translated the Psalms into German, he began putting some of them into a melodic verse form so that everyone could start singing them. One of the very first Psalms turned into a song and distributed on leaflets was Psalm 67, which became something of a hymn of the Reformation. (The English translation of that hymn is called “May God on Us Bestow His Grace.”)
I love that 500 years later this Psalm could in many ways be called the hymn of North Wake. This last week of Entermission expresses our conviction that the gospel of grace and the glory of God among all peoples is at the heart of our mission.
Luther states:
“This sacrifice of praise, this offering of thanks [that Psalm 67 talks about], is the highest worship of God, and is a sacrifice truly acceptable unto him…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.”
So, let us join together on Sunday to bring a sacrifice of praise as His gospel is preached among all nations until God’s kingdom comes!
