READ Psalm 65:5–8. 5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.
THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. David is again speaking prophetically about a time when “all people will come” (see verse 2) and when all the “turmoil of the nations” (verse 7)—all the war, strife, conflict, oppression—will be ended. God is the Savior and hope of even those who live at the farthest ends of the earth (verse 5). God’s salvation began with Abraham’s family, who then became the nation of Israel, and now has burst all boundaries of nation, race, language, ethnic origin, or geographical location. We must prepare our hearts for the rich diversity of heaven (Revelation 7:9) by showing love for all, and especially those of God’s people on earth who are far from us socially, economically, racially, politically, or any other way.
Prayer: Lord, I am so absorbed in my own troubles I don’t see and praise you for what you are doing across the world. Help me to escape the defense mechanism of racial superiority so I can embrace, learn from, and rejoice in my brothers and sisters across the boundaries of race, class, and nationality. Amen.