Be Glad and Sing for Joy
Yael Eckstein | June 2, 2024
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth. — Psalm 67:4
In honor of my father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, and his lifework helping Christians understand the Jewish roots of their faith, I offer you one of his devotional teachings from the beloved Psalms.
Several years ago, an American veteran who had lost both of his legs in Afghanistan, decided to come to Israel to volunteer with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Brian Mast wanted to work side by side with the soldiers he held in such high regard. What would make an American Christian want to help out the Jewish State?
Psalm 67 helps provide an answer to that question. According to Jewish tradition, Psalm 67 is a very special psalm. God revealed this psalm to only two people—Moses and David. Moreover, when God granted each a vision of this psalm, it was shown to them in the shape of a menorah, the lampstand that was placed first in the Tabernacle and then later in the Temple.
The psalm is composed of seven verses. The first three comprise the three branches on the left side of the menorah, the fourth verse serves as the center trunk, and the final three verses make up the three branches on the right side. The Jewish sages teach that whoever concentrates daily on this menorah-shaped psalm, it’s as if that person has kindled the lights of the Temple menorah.
So what’s the message of this most esteemed psalm?
Be Glad and Sing for Joy
The message, in short, reflects our goal and our mission as the Jewish people, as the nation of Israel, and as freedom-loving, God-serving people everywhere. It asks that all people joyfully recognize God and live in harmony. The fourth verse—the one that forms the central beam of the menorah—reads, “May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.”
On a spiritual level, the Jewish people are most interested in being a light to the nations. We strive, and at times fight, for the day that there will peace, justice, and harmony. Our goal is that the entire world will joyfully recognize God—not that they will be oppressed, repressed, and depressed.
Tradition teaches that King David had this menorah-shaped psalm etched upon his battle shield and this is what made him successful on the battlefield. Like David, it’s important to remember what we are fighting for and be inspired to work as hard as we can until the vision of a harmonious world becomes a reality.
Your Turn:
The author of so many of the beloved Psalms, King David is still an inspiration to us all. Learn more about David in this complimentary Bible study, and check out all of our educational resources related to God’s Word, God’s people, and the land He promised them, Israel.
