The psalm begins with “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” This psalm is the Old Testament anticipation of New Testament evangelism. We read in verse 9a: “The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God.” It is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2,3.

But we know nations are in rebellion against God (Ps. 2:1,2). The nations will come to God’s fold through evangelism. Evangelism is spiritual warfare (Eph 6:12; 2Cor 4;4). God himself is the King who leads his people to battles against nations and brings victories. If we interpret verse 3, “He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet” as God’s favoritism shown to Israel, we miss the point. God’s ultimate purpose of putting Gentiles under their feet is to assemble them as his people. God’s chosen people must not be proud but thank him for choosing them as his instruments (cf. Rom 6:13).

When Gentiles, even their nobles and kings, assemble as God’s people, God is greatly exalted (9). When we see God highly exalted, we shout to God with cries of joy.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the vision and hope of world evangelism. We can’t do it by our own power, but you can. Amen.
One Word: God reigns over nations