The Mission’s Psalm

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-10-2023

Psalm 67

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  I find this Psalm one of interest because, as the general rule, Jews neither accepted nor affiliated with non-Jews. 

 

1.  The Canaanite Woman – Matthew 15:22-27  And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.  (23)  But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.  (24)  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  (25)  Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.  (26)  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.  (27)  And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.  (The Lord did not look down upon her but fully understood her position in life caused by the rejection of the Jews.)

 

2.  The Samaritan Woman – John 4:7-9  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.  (8)  (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)  (9)  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

 

3.  The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:29  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? (33)  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

 

4.  Cornelius – Acts 10:11-16  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  (12)  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  (13)  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  (14)  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.  (15)  And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  (16)  This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

 

5.  The Gentile Believers – Galatians 2:11-14  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.  (12)  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.  (13)  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.  (14)  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

 

6.  The Jewish Proselytes.  The Court of the Gentiles – The outermost court of Zerubbabel’s Temple where the Gentiles had to remain.  Gentiles, foreigners, and those counted impure had to worship there.  It was where Jesus found the money changers and sellers of impure sacrifices when He cleansed the Temple.

 

B.  Our Lord died for the sins of the Whole World!  Not just for the sins of the Jews.  In this prophetic Psalm, we find the heart of God for sinners.

 

1 Timothy 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

C.  The Psalm of Missions!

 

1.  Verse 1.  The Preparation of Missions. “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.”  (Missions begins with the hearing of God’s commandment to His people.)

 

a.  The Hearing of Missions.  Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  (19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

b.  The Heart of Missions.  Lamentations 3:48-51  Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.  (49)  Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,  (50)  Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.  (51)  Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. (Mission ignorant people do no missions; Mission minded people think missions; Mission hearted people do missions.)

 

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

 

2.  Verse 2.  The Performance of Missions.  That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 

 

a.  Those who go.  “Go ye”  Isaiah 6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

 

b.  Those who send.  “ye shall be witnesses unto me BOTH in Jerusalem (Laurens), and in all Judaea (South Carolina), and in Samaria (America), and unto the uttermost part of the earth (The World).”

 

3.  Verses 3-5.  The Praise of Missions.  “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.  (4)  O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.”

 

a.  Praise the Lord for every soul won.

 

b.  Praise the Lord for every church established.

 

c.  Praise the Lord for every indigenous preacher raised up.

4.  Verses 6-7.  The Product of Missions.  “Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.  (7)  God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.”

 

a.  Verse 6.  The Fruit of God.  1 Corinthians 3:6-7  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  (7)  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

 

b.  Verse 7.  The Fear of God.  Revelation 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;