서론
無標題
英文原文
This psalm relates to the church and is calculated for the public. Here is, I. A prayer for the prosperity of the church of Israel, Ps 67:1. II. A prayer for the conversion of the Gentiles and the bringing of them into the church, Ps 67:2-5. III. A prospect of happy and glorious times when God shall do this, Ps 67:6,7. Thus was the psalmist carried out by the spirit of prophecy to foretel the glorious estate of the Christian church, in which Jews and Gentiles should unite in one flock, the beginning of which blessed work ought to be the matter of our joy and praise, and the completing of it of our prayer and hope, in singing this psalm.
1-7
Prayer for the Prosperity and Extension of the Church; Conversion of the Gentiles
為教會的興盛與擴展祈禱；外邦人的歸信
交與伶長，用絲弦的樂器。一篇詩或歌。
¹ 願神憐憫我們，賜福與我們，用臉光照我們；（細拉） ² 好叫你的道被普世所知，你的救恩被萬國所聞。 ³ 神啊，願列邦讚美你；願萬民都讚美你。 ⁴ 願列邦快樂歡呼；因為你必按公義審判萬民，引導世上的萬國。（細拉） ⁵ 神啊，願列邦讚美你；願萬民都讚美你。 ⁶ 這樣地必出土產；神，就是我們的神，要賜福與我們。 ⁷ 神要賜福與我們；地的四極都要敬畏他。
本篇詩的構造表明詩人的情感極其熱切活潑；他正是藉著這敬虔的靈被提升，得以領受關乎神國度擴張的預言之靈。
一、他首先為當時教會的福祉與興盛祈求——他要在其幸福中有分，並以之為樂（詩六十七1）。我們的救主在教導我們說我們在天上的父時，已暗示我們當與別人一同、也為別人禱告；詩人在此所求的，也不是神憐憫我、賜福與我，而是憐憫我們、賜福與我們；因為我們當為眾聖徒祈求，也當樂意並歡喜與他們同受分派。我們在此受教：1. 我們一切的幸福都來自神的憐憫，並以憐憫為其源頭；因此所求的第一件事便是：神憐憫我們——憐憫我們這些罪人，赦免我們的罪（路十八13），憐憫我們這些可憐的罪人，救我們脫離我們的苦境。2. 這幸福是藉著神的賜福傳遞，並在其中得以穩妥：神賜福與我們，就是使我們得著有分於他的應許，並將其中所含的一切美善賜給我們。神對我們說好話，就等於為我們行善事。神賜福與我們是一個包羅萬象的禱告；這樣寶貴的話語竟常被輕忽、草率地使用，甚至當作口頭禪，實在可惜。3. 這幸福在他臉光之中得以成全：神用臉光照我們，就是神藉他的恩典使我們配得他的恩寵，然後將他恩寵的憑據賜給我們。我們要得幸福，所求的莫過於神的臉光照我們、神愛我們並使我們知道他愛我們——與我們一同發光（旁註如此讀）；與我們同在——當我們盡力而為之時，他使我們的努力得著成功。我們若憑信心與神同行，便可期望他的臉與我們一同發光。
二、他由此轉向為外邦人歸信的祈求（詩六十七2）：好叫你的道被普世所知。「主啊，我不僅求你憐憫我們、賜福與我們，更求你憐憫全人類，好叫你的道被普世所知。」我們在禱告中理當如此胸懷天下。*我們在天上的父，願人都尊你的名為聖，願你的國降臨。*別人來與我們同享神的憐憫、賜福與恩寵，並不會使我們所得的減少。這話也可這樣理解：神憐憫我們猶太人，賜福與我們，為的是使你的道因此被普世所知——藉著你向我們所施那獨特而與眾不同的恩寵記號，使別人受吸引而來歸附我們，說：我們要與你們同去，因為我們聽見神與你們同在了（亞八23）。
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這幾節指向外邦人歸信的經文，可以這樣理解：（1）作為禱告；如此它表達了舊約聖徒的渴望——他們非但不願獨佔教會的特權，反而巴不得圍牆被拆毀、好處被敞開。當由此看見，猶太人在基督與他使徒之日的心志，與他們列祖的心志何等不同。古時的以色列人確實渴望神的名在外邦中被認識；那些假冒的猶太人卻因福音傳給外邦人而勃然大怒；在基督教中，沒有甚麼比這件事更惹動他們的怒氣。（2）作為預言——事情必如他所禱告的那樣成就。許多聖經的預言與應許都包裹在禱告之中，為要表明：教會禱告的蒙允，正如神的應許得著成就一樣確定。
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此處為外邦人求三件事：
（1）願神的啟示臨到他們中間（詩六十七2）。他渴望有兩件事在地上、在萬國之中被認識，而不僅僅在猶太人中間——〔一〕神的道，就是當盡之責的準則：「願他們都像我們一樣認識何為善，以及耶和華我們的神向他們所要的是甚麼；願他們與我們一樣，得蒙那公義的律例典章為福為榮，這典章正是我們國家的讚美、鄰國所羨慕的」（申四8）。〔二〕他的拯救，或說他的救恩。前者包裹在他的律法之中，後者包裹在他的福音之中。神若將他的道指示我們、我們又行在其中，他必將他的救恩指示我們（詩五十23）。那些親身經歷過神道路之甘甜、與他救恩之安慰的人，不能不渴望並求告使這一切也被別人認識，甚至在各國之中。地上所有的人都當行在神的道中，所有人都需要他的救恩，並且其中豐富足以供應所有人；因此我們當求這二者都被傳給萬民。
（2）願敬拜在他們中間被建立起來——哪裏接受並擁抱了神的啟示，那裏必如此（詩六十七3）：神啊，願列邦讚美你！願他們有讚美的緣由，願他們有讚美的心；不但有些人，更願萬民都讚美你——萬民按其國家的身分，各族中都有人。這話又重複一遍（詩六十七5），表明這正是詩人心中極其看重的事。那些以讚美神為樂的人，不能不渴望別人也來讚美他，使他得著榮耀，他們也得益處。這是一個禱告：〔一〕願福音傳給他們，那時他們便有足夠的理由讚美神，如同經過漫長黑夜之後的清晨日光。太陽升起了。（徒八8）。〔二〕願他們被歸正、被帶入教會，那時他們便有讚美神的性情——讚美那又真又活的神，而不是他們素來所拜那些啞口無言、如糞堆一般的假神（但五4）。那時他們對神的剛硬念頭必被止息，並要在福音的鏡子中看見他就是愛的本身，是讚美的正當對象。〔三〕願他們被組成莊嚴的會眾，並集體讚美神，使他們能同心合口地讚美他。如此，當神被公開承認、敬拜的禮儀在宗教聚會中按規矩舉行時，一地便有了宗教的外貌。
（3）願神的治理被承認並甘心順服（詩六十七4）：願列邦快樂歡呼！聖潔的喜樂——在神並他名裏的喜樂——正是感恩讚美的心靈與靈魂。願萬民都讚美你；願列邦快樂。那些靠主常常喜樂的人，必在凡事上謝恩。他為列邦所祝的喜樂是聖潔的喜樂，因為這是在神掌權中的喜樂——為神已經掌權、已經顯出大能而喜樂；而那未歸正的列邦卻向神發怒（啟十一17、18）。願他們快樂：〔一〕因為國度是屬乎耶和華的（詩二十二28），他為絕對的主宰，必引導世上的萬國——他必以他護理的國度，照他旨意的籌算統理列國的事務，縱然他們既不認識他也不承認他；並且到了時候，他必藉著他福音的傳揚使萬民作他的門徒（太二十八19），在魔鬼國度的廢墟之上，在他們中間建立他恩典的國度——他必在他權能的日子使他們成為甘心的人民，甚至世上的國度要成了主和主基督的國度。〔二〕因為判斷是從主而來的。「願他們因你必按公義審判萬民而快樂——你必賜下律法與福音作為公義的審判準則，並照那準則對世人一切兒女發出毫無錯謬的判語，沒有人能提出異議。」願我們都快樂：我們不必彼此作審判官，審判我們的乃是主，他的審判我們確知是照著真理的。
三、他以一個喜樂的展望作為結論——當神行這事、當列邦被歸正而來讚美神之時，各樣美善都必隨之而來。
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下面的世界要向他們微笑，他們也必享受其果子（詩六十七6）：這樣地必出土產。這並不是說神在萬民坐在黑暗中時不曾賜下雨水和豐年的節氣（徒十四17）；而是當他們歸正之後，地便向神出土產；那時糧食和飲料就成了獻給耶和華我們神為素祭和奠祭（珥二14）；那時地才結實纍纍，達到美好的目的。那時地出土產比從前更多，使人得安慰——他們因基督而得了享受其果子的盟約權利，並在聖潔中使用它。當注意：福音的成功有時也帶來外面的恩惠；公義能使邦國高舉。見賽四2，六十二9。
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上面的世界要向他們微笑，他們也必享受其恩寵，這是更好得多的事：神，就是我們的神，要賜福與我們（詩六十七6）。又說（詩六十七7）：*神要賜福與我們。*當注意：（1）世上有一班子民，能以充分的理由稱神為他們的神。（2）信徒有理由以他們與神的關係、並他們在他裏面的利益為榮。此話乃是以得勝的口吻說的：神，就是我們的神。（3）那些藉恩典稱神為自己之神的人，可以存謙卑的確據期待從他而來的賜福。他若是我們的神，就必以特別的福賜福我們。（4）神既在盟約中屬我們，他的賜福便使我們一切受造之物的安慰變為甘甜，使之真正成為安慰；當神——就是我們的神——將他的賜福一同賜下時，我們領受地的出產才真是領受了憐憫。
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全世界因此必被帶來與他們同樣行：地的四極都要敬畏他，就是敬拜他——這是當以敬虔的敬畏來作的。神所賜的福呼召我們不僅愛他，更要敬畏他，常存對他崇高的意念，並懼怕得罪他。當福音開始傳開，它必越傳越廣，直到地的四極。藏在麵裏的麵酵必發起來，直到全團都發了。那些被帶入教會的人既承認自己領受了如此眾多的福，便吸引別人來與他們聯合。與那蒙主賜福的人同受分派，實為美事。
英文原文
Prayer for the Prosperity and Extension of the Church; Conversion of the Gentiles
To the chief musician on Neginoth. A psalm or song.
¹ God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
² That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
³ 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.
⁵ Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
⁶ 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.
The composition of this psalm is such as denotes the penman's affections to have been very warm and lively, by which spirit of devotion he was elevated to receive the spirit of prophecy concerning the enlargement of God's kingdom.
I. He begins with a prayer for the welfare and prosperity of the church then in being, in the happiness of which he should share, and think himself happy, Ps 67:1. Our Saviour, in teaching us to say, Our Father, has intimated that we ought to pray with and for others; so the psalmist here prays not, God be merciful to me, and bless me, but to us, and bless us; for we must make supplication for all saints, and be willing and glad to take our lot with them. We are here taught, 1. That all our happiness comes from God's mercy and takes rise in that; and therefore the first thing prayed for is, God be merciful to us, to us sinners, and pardon our sins (Lu 18:13), to us miserable sinners, and help us out of our miseries. 2. That it is conveyed by God's blessing, and secured in that: God bless us; that is, give us an interest in his promises, and confer upon us all the good contained in them. God's speaking well to us amounts to his doing well for us. God bless us is a comprehensive prayer; it is a pity such excellent words should ever be used slightly and carelessly, and as a byword. 3. That it is completed in the light of his countenance: God cause his face to shine upon us; that is, God by his grace qualify us for his favour and then give us the tokens of his favour. We need desire no more to make us happy than to have God's face shine upon us, to have God love us, and let us know that he loves us: To shine with us (so the margin reads it); with us doing our endeavour, and let it crown that endeavour with success. If we by faith walk with God, we may hope that his face will shine with us.
II. He passes from this to a prayer for the conversion of the Gentiles (Ps 67:2): That thy way may be known upon earth. "Lord, I pray not only that thou wilt be merciful to us and bless us, but that thou wilt be merciful to all mankind, that thy way may be known upon earth." Thus public-spirited must we be in our prayers. Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come. We shall have never the less of God's mercy, and blessing, and favour, for others coming in to share with us. Or it may be taken thus: "God be merciful to us Jews, and bless us, that thereby thy way may be known upon earth, that by the peculiar distinguishing tokens of thy favour to us others may be allured to come and join themselves to us, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you," Zec 8:23.
1. These verses, which point at the conversion of the Gentiles, may be taken, (1.) As a prayer; and so it speaks the desire of the Old-Testament saints; so far were they from wishing to monopolize the privileges of the church that they desired nothing more than the throwing down of the enclosure and the laying open of the advantages. See then how the spirit of the Jews, in the days of Christ and his apostles, differed from the spirit of their fathers. The Israelites indeed that were of old desired that God's name might be known among the Gentiles; those counterfeit Jews were enraged at the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles; nothing in Christianity exasperated them so much as that did. (2.) As a prophecy that it shall be as he here prays. Many scripture-prophecies and promises are wrapped up in prayers, to intimate that the answer of the church's prayer is as sure as the performance of God's promises.
2. Three things are here prayed for, with reference to the Gentiles:—
(1.) That divine revelation might be sent among them, Ps 67:2. Two things he desires might be know upon earth, even among all nations, and not to the nation of the Jews only:—[1.] God's way, the rule of duty: "Let them all know, as well as we do, what is good and what the Lord our God requires of them; let them be blessed and honoured with the same righteous statutes and judgments which are so much the praise of our nation and the envy of all its neighbours," De 4:8. [2.] His saving health, or his salvation. The former is wrapped up in his law, this in his gospel. If God make known his way to us, and we walk in it, he will show us his saving health, Ps 50:23. Those that have themselves experimentally known the pleasantness of God's ways, and the comforts of his salvation, cannot but desire and pray that they may be known to others, even among all nations. All upon earth are bound to walk in God's way, all need his salvation, and there is in it enough for all; and therefore we should pray that both the one and the other may be made known to all.
(2.) That divine worship may be set up among them, as it will be where divine revelation is received and embraced (Ps 67:3): "Let the people praise thee, O God! let them have matter for praise, let them have hearts for praise; yea, let not only some, but all the people, praise thee," all nations in their national capacity, some of all nations. It is again repeated (Ps 67:5) as that which the psalmist's heart was very much upon. Those that delight in praising God themselves cannot but desire that others also may be brought to praise him, that he may have the honour of it and they may have the benefit of it. It is a prayer, [1.] That the gospel might be preached to them, and then they would have cause enough to praise God, as for the day-spring after a long and dark night. Ortus est sol—The sun has risen. Ac 8:8. [2.] That they might be converted and brought into the church, and then they would have a disposition to praise God, the living and true God, and not the dumb and dunghill deities they had worshipped, Da 5:4. Then their hard thoughts of God would be silenced, and they would see him, in the gospel glass, to be love itself, and the proper object of praise. [3.] That they might be incorporated into solemn assemblies, and might praise God in a body, that they might all together praise him with one mind and one mouth. Thus a face of religion appears upon a land when God is publicly owned and the ordinances of religious worship are duly celebrated in religious assemblies.
(3.) That the divine government may be acknowledged and cheerfully submitted to (Ps 67:4): O let the nations be glad, and sing for joy! Holy joy, joy in God and in his name, is the heart and soul of thankful praise. That all the people may praise thee, let the nations be glad. Those that rejoice in the Lord always will in every thing give thanks. The joy he wishes to the nations is holy joy; for it is joy in God's dominion, joy that God has taken to himself his great power and has reigned, which the unconverted nations are angry at, Re 11:17,18. Let them be glad, [1.] That the kingdom is the Lord's (Ps 22:28), that he, as an absolute sovereign, shall govern the nations upon earth, that by the kingdom of his providence he shall overrule the affairs of kingdoms according to the counsel of his will, though they neither know him nor own him, and that in due time he shall disciple all nations by the preaching of his gospel (Mt 28:19) and set up the kingdom of his grace among them upon the ruin of the devil's kingdom—that he shall make them a willing people in the day of his power, and even the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ. [2.] That every man's judgment proceeds from the Lord. "Let them be glad that thou shalt judge the people righteously, that thou shalt give a law and gospel which shall be a righteous rule of judgment, and shalt pass an unerring sentence, according to that rule, upon all the children of men, against which there will lie no exception." Let us all be glad that we are not to be one another's judges, but that he that judges us is the Lord, whose judgment we are sure is according to truth.
III. He concludes with a joyful prospect of all good when God shall do this, when the nations shall be converted and brought to praise God.
1. The lower world shall smile upon them, and they shall have the fruits of that (Ps 67:6): Then shall the earth yield her increase. Not but that God gave rain from heaven and fruitful seasons to the nations when they sat in darkness (Ac 14:17); but when they were converted the earth yielded its increase to God; the meat and the drink then became a meat-offering and a drink-offering to the Lord our God (Joe 2:14); and then it was fruitful to some good purpose. Then it yielded its increase more than before to the comfort of men, who through Christ acquired a covenant-title to the fruits of it and had a sanctified use of it. Note, The success of the gospel sometimes brings outward mercies along with it; righteousness exalts a nation. See Isa 4:2,62:9.
2. The upper world shall smile upon them, and they shall have the favours of that, which is much better: God, even our own God, shall bless us, Ps 67:6. And again (Ps 67:7), God shall bless us. Note, (1.) There are a people in the world that can, upon good grounds, call God their God. (2.) Believers have reason to glory in their relation to God and the interest they have in him. It is here spoken with an air of triumph. God, even our own God. (3.) Those who through grace call God their own may with a humble confidence expect a blessing from him. If he be our God, he will bless us with special blessings. (4.) The blessing of God, as ours in covenant, is that which sweetens all our creature-comforts to us, and makes them comforts indeed; then we receive the increase of the earth as a mercy indeed when with it God, even our own God, gives us his blessing.
3. All the world shall hereby be brought to do like them: The ends of the earth shall fear him, that is, worship him, which is to be done with a godly fear. The blessings God bestows upon us call upon us not only to love him, but to fear him, to keep up high thoughts of him and to be afraid of offending him. When the gospel begins to spread it shall get ground more and more, till it reach to the ends of the earth. The leaven hidden in the meal shall diffuse itself, till the whole be leavened. And the many blessings which those will own themselves to have received that are brought into the church invite others to join themselves to them. It is good to cast in our lot with those that are the blessed of the Lord.
本篇論到教會，是為公眾而作的。其中有：一、為以色列教會興盛的禱告（詩六七1）。二、為外邦人歸正、並被帶入教會的禱告（詩六七2-5）。三、當神成就此事時那有福、榮耀之時代的展望（詩六七6、7）。詩人因此被預言的靈引導，預告基督教會榮耀的光景——在其中猶太人與外邦人要合成一群；這蒙福之工的起頭，當作為我們唱這詩時喜樂讚美的內容，其成全則當作我們禱告與盼望的內容。