The Gentiles in the Psalms
to an idol or swear by what is false.
Obviously none of us has had a pure heart or clean hands. And we see in Israel's history repeated violations of God's first commandment. For anyone to sit in judgment over someone else is out of place. All our sins condemn us before a holy judge. The Israelites had no more right to stand in God's presence than the Gentiles. By God's grace alone can we come before God.
Take a look at Psalm 32. It does not say that the Jews only are blessed. Rather it says: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
The Psalm refers to anyone that fits that description, and not just the Jews. The Gentiles are also considered blessed if they accept and believe the promises of God.
The psalmists express the will of God that all would come to faith. In Psalm 86 we read: All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O LORD; they will bring glory to your name.
All the nations God has made. Whatever God has made no one can call unclean, unworthy of God's free grace and salvation. Even the great enemies of Israel are included in God's plan of salvation as we see in Psalm 87: Glorious things are said of you, O city of God: "I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me-- Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush-- and will say, 'This one was born in Zion'."
Indeed salvation was intended for the Gentile as well as the Jew. The Israelites had an obligation as God's people and the bearer of God's laws. They were to evangelize to the Gentiles. A large part of the temple was set aside as the court of the Gentiles. The Gentiles were to be welcomed to observe the Jewish ceremonies, to hear the prophesies concerning the Messiah and ultimately, through the working of the Holy Spirit, to come to faith. In Psalm 96 we have a beautiful example of this commission to Israel: Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the
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