A DEI PSALM

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. - Psalm 67:4 (NRSV)

 

The word “equity” caught my attention in today’s psalm. Although it’s much in the news these days, “equity” doesn’t show up much in English translations of Bible—only 14 times in the NRSV, seven of which are in the Psalms. But the Hebrew word meshar—translated as “equity” in Psalm 67—is found throughout the Bible, since it also means righteousness, fairness, and levelness (as in a level playing field).

 

Unlike “equity,” the modern words “diversity” and “inclusion” don’t appear in the Bible’s English translations, but the concepts certainly do. In Psalm 67, the psalmist begins with the ancient Aaronic blessing (“May the Lord bless you and keep you,” Numbers 6:24-26), but expands the blessing from the original “you” singular to the plural “us.” The whole congregation is included in the blessing.

 

Then the psalmist takes that inclusion beyond their own congregation and their own people, to embrace “all the peoples” and all the nations. The blessing expands across the psalm: first for the individual, then the congregation, then the tribe, and by its last verse, Psalm 67 becomes a call to extend God’s blessing to “all the ends of the earth.”

 

Psalm 67 sings clearly of God’s command for us, our congregations, our country to be committed expansively to diversity, inclusion, and equity. As Jesus would say, “Let those who have ears, hear.”

 

Prayer

Thank you, God, for ancient words that speak a truth we need to hear. Amen.