Bless Us, and Enable Other People to see for Themselves

Bless Us, and Enable Other Peoples to See for Themselves
Psalm 67

“God bless America.” The fact that this weekend has been characterized by commemorations of September 11 has made that plea once more resound. Now, the Old Testament is inclined to make a distinction between blessing and deliverance. Deliverance is what God does when you are in a mess and you need rescuing; it is an occasional thing. Blessing is what God does on a more regular basis, making the land, its animals, and its people fruitful. After September 11, then, I have been inclined to think that the appropriate prayer is “God deliver America” or “God protect America.”...