Meditating on Missions Through the Psalms
All the way back from the table of nations in Genesis 10 and
the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, we see that the nations of the earth play a
major role in God’s redemptive plan.
All the nations became rebels and apostates from God at the
tower of Babel. Then, God, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, specifically
chose the nation of Israel to be his possession. Through Israel, he brought the
promised Messiah into the world. Now he is continuing to redeem for himself
people from every tribe, language, and nation.
What was not clear at the time of the patriarchs (though it
was mentioned progressively throughout the Old Testament) was that all nations
would eventually be redeemed and would return to God. Indeed, even in God’s
covenant to Abraham, we see that he would be the father of many nations, and
that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. But the mystery
of how God would include the Gentiles was not fully revealed until the New
Testament. It is both joyous and amazing to see the apostles come to this
realization in Acts 15:13-18:
After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers,
listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take
from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree,
just as it is written, “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent
of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that
the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called
by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’”
The basis for modern missions does not solely come from New
Testament passages like the Great Commission in Matthew 28. New Testament
missiology is built on the foundation of the Old Testament promises of God. Our
task of making disciples all over the world is rooted in truths that go all the
way back to the beginning and can be traced from Genesis to Revelation—including,
significantly, the psalms.
THE MISSION OF GOD IN THE PSALMS
Poetry is a special means of communicating memorably. When
God wants his people to know something, comprehend its gravity, and hold onto
it for a lifetime, then he frequently communicates in the form of a poem. And
biblical missiology is no exception to this principle.
Psalm 2 serves as an excellent example of theological
weightiness packed into poetic form. Here we can see the basis of both New
Testament Christology and missiology wrapped together:
I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my
Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your
heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” (Ps. 2:7-8)
The Son’s legitimate authority and rightful ownership over
the nations, foretold in Psalm 2 and in other OT passages, is used explicitly
by Jesus as the basis for our missionary efforts commanded in the Great
Commission. “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go,
therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt. 28:18-19).
The Psalms contain the foundations of New Testament mission.
By meditation on the psalms, we see the glory of Christ and receive our
commission to magnify his name among all the nations.