Focus 2020 – The Great Commission: Perspectives from LeadersSample

Glorious Things! 

Bible passage: 

Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush— “This one was born there,” they say. Psalm 87:4 

Devotional: 

Psalm 87 is a fine specimen of Hebrew poetry, but it is much more than that. Beautifully crafted, this psalm provides us with a powerful promise and an end-time vision. 

This psalm was written after the Babylonian captivity to encourage God’s people as they returned to Zion. For the modern reader though, I believe these verses encapsulate important missiological implications. 

In the first line, we are reminded that the Lord himself founded the city. God’s merciful salvation plan for the nations originated in his heart. We get a glimpse of that heart as the psalmist begins to list several nations (traditionally sworn enemies of Israel) as part of ‘those who know me.’ To the early readers, including these nations in the Lord’s ‘register’ would be astonishing or even scandalous. But the Lord’s ways are beyond our ways and his compassionate heart is not bound by limiting socio-cultural boundaries we may have here on earth. His heart for the salvation of all types of people transcends what our biases may be. 

He is telling Israel: my plan is wider than you perceive. I will save nations that are powerful (like Egypt and Babylon). I will save nations that seem far from God (like Philistia). I will save those who are near (like Tyre, north of Israel) and I will save nations who are far away (like Ethiopia). I choose to include them too. 

In the psalm, these nations end up in the register of those who find salvation. As we see their modern names, it is exciting to see countries like Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, and the Palestinian people, well represented in the Book of Life. 

Could God be gathering for Himself a people from historically rebellious nations or groups that seem impenetrable with the Gospel? According to this psalm, yes! 

The imagery in the final verse of ‘singers and dancers’ lavishly praising God immediately sends me to Revelations 7:9. This is the victorious and culminating image of all our Great Commission work. These are glorious things to think of and speak of, indeed. 

Quote: His heart for the salvation of all types of people transcends what our biases may be. 

Question: In our plans to fulfill the Great Commission, are we including nations and peoples who may seem unreachable? Are there nations and peoples in our lists we may be missing from God’s cosmovision to complete the Great Task?  

Marcos Daniel González 

CML/Pastor, Faith Assembly of God