Scripture Union Daily Discovery Sunday 30th August 2020 Devotional – The Smile of God
TODAY’S TOPIC: THE SMILE OF GOD
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, for the many blessings You’ve given me…
Read Psalm 67
Psalm 67[a] For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—[b] 2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
Daily Discovery Sunday 30th August 2020 Devotional
6 The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Footnotes
a Psalm 67:1 In Hebrew texts 67:1-7 is numbered 67:2-8.
b Psalm 67:1 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect: Daily Discovery Sunday 30th August 2020 Devotional
Spend some time “counting your blessings.” You may find it helpful to write a list.
The great theologian Claus Westermann contrasted two general aspects of God’s merciful action towards humanity: God’s saving activity and God’s blessing activity (Elements of Old Testament Theology). We have tended to emphasize the former and played down the latter. But Scripture consistently speaks of God’s blessing activity in fertility, harvest, health, prosperity, and protection. This is the focus of this psalm.
The psalm begins with a prayer for God’s blessing (1), moves on to declare the way God has blessed through his sovereignty over the nations and a fruitful harvest, and ends with a request for God’s continued blessing (7). God’s blessing overflows. But God’s blessing on Israel was to overflow to others so that God would be acknowledged and praised (3,5). This is how God’s blessing always works (Gen. 12:2,3).
When my children were little they sometimes used to say, “Daddy, you’re making big eyebrows.” What they meant was that my face was expressing disapproval. All children long for the blessing of their parents—their smile—and this is the gift of God to his people, his face shining on them. It is what Jacob wrestled for (Gen. 32:26), it is the Father’s gift to Jesus at his baptism (Mark 1:11), it is his gift to you in Christ and to everyone in creation.
Apply: As you reflect on God’s blessing, is there any way you can bless someone else? Do it today!
Closing Prayer: My Friend, help me to be a blessing to others today, as You have blessed me.
Through the Bible in One Year
Song of Solomon 1,2 / Psalms 99–101
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Daily Discovery 29th August 2020
