Episode Details

Psalm 67: The Blessing That Cannot Be Kept

This is one of the shortest psalms and one of the most astonishing in its reach. It begins with what sounds like a private prayer — "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us" — the ancient Aaronic blessing, warm and familiar. But then comes the reason, and it changes everything: "That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations." The blessing is not an end in itself. It is a lamp, and a lamp is not lit to admire the flame but to illuminate the room. Israel is blessed so that the nations might see, and seeing, sing. The refrain — "Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee" — beats at the center of the psalm like a heart. And when the praise is finally universal, the earth itself responds: "Then shall the earth yield her increase." As if the soil had been waiting, all along, for the world to get the music right.

00:00 Cause His Face to Shine Upon Us
01:00 All the Ends of the Earth