Focus Passage: Psalm 67:4

‘Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy.’

Do these words sound like a cry for revival? Perhaps that is exactly what they are meant to be. In point of fact, at least one writer refers to this Psalm as being a ‘missionary psalm.’ William Binnie, has been considered by many to have been something of an authority on the Psalms, having written a popular commentary upon that choice book of Old Testament poetry and song. Spurgeon spoke rather highly of this work when he commended it to any that might have been considering adding it to their lists of prospective purchases. The ‘Prince of Preachers’ wrote of Binnie’s commentary, “His work is unlike any other, and supplies a great desideratum.” A choice comment from Binnie upon this 67th Psalm is worth repeating:

“How admirably balanced are the parts of this missionary song! The people of God long to see all the nations participating in their privileges, ‘visited with God’s salvation, and gladdened with the gladness of his nation.’ (Psalm cvi. 5). They long to hear all the nationalities giving thanks to the Lord, and hallowing his name; to see the face of the whole earth, which sin has darkened so long, smiling with the brightness of a second Eden.”

Well may we enquire, ‘Is this truly a missionary song,’ or would it perhaps be more appropriate to call it—or at least to think of it as—a revival song, or psalm? What is the distinction between that which is proper to missions, and that which is proper to revival? We often think of the apostle Paul, along with Barnabas, being the very first ‘missionaries’ constituted and sent out by the church. For what specific purpose were they sent out? We have read in the book of Acts, in chapter 13, vss. 2-3:

And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Thus when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

It would seem only fair, since we are not expressly told that for which they were sent forth; the work whereunto I have called them, to permit the sequel to explain more fully the intent for which they were so sent. It is found immediately in the next verse.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant.—Acts 13:4-5.

It appears to be evident from these subsequent verses that Barnabas and Saul were sent forth for the express purpose of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is well worth noting that Barnabas and Saul proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. This corresponds, does it not, with Christ’s sending forth the twelve as recorded for us by Matthew (10:5-6)?

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and charged them, saying, go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

This was a mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to lost sheep. It was a mission of establishing churches of Jesus Christ wherever the gospel was received with acceptation. Other than the reality that there is, in a very true sense, a case of revival, although singular and individual, when one sinner comes to Christ, for one is only able to come to Christ when God the Holy Spirit revives—regenerates—their heart, yet it is not that which we think of when we reflect upon the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, or even in the case of the grand revival of the true religion that we have come to denominate, The Reformation. The Reformation was a work of God the Holy Spirit simultaneously across an entire continent; many different countries all in a confined space of time, while missionary work as we have come to think of it, speaks more of individual ‘revivals’ know as conversion.

I am convinced that Paul would be the last person to suggest, or imagine, that ‘missionaries’ are able to travel around the world reviving (regenerating) hearts. Nonetheless, it is clear in the Scriptures that the means chosen and appointed of God for bringing sinners to a knowledge of their sin and need of a Savior is the preaching of the gospel. It is equally clear in the Scriptures that God the Holy Spirit is the only One who can, and does, regenerate hearts, making sinners willing to come to Christ in the day of His power. He is the gifter of both faith and repentance which are both necessary for the sinner to embrace Christ in grace and truth.

William Carey became known as the “Father and Founder of Modern Missions.” It has been reported that “at a minister’s meeting in 1787, Carey raised the question of whether it was the duty of all Christians to spread the gospel throughout the world. John Ryland is said to have retorted: ‘Young man, sit down; when God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid and mine.’ We cannot support Ryland’s hyper-Calvinism, but this historical event brings into play the contest, if you will, that has existed for centuries between the doctrines of grace and free-will; or the teaching that it is God who must save, and the teaching that man contributes to his salvation; of monergism [God only] and synergism [God and man]. The truth is that Salvation is of Jehovah (Jonah), yet man must believe. In the meanwhile, the Church [ourselves] must be praying to God to grant revival.

Lord, bless and pity us,

   shine on us with thy face:

That th’earth thy way, and nations all

   may know thy saving grace.

Let people praise thee, Lord;

   let people all thee praise.

O let the nations be glad,

   in song their voices raise.—The Psalms of David in Metre.

David Farmer, elder

Fellowship Bible Church