Connect Psalm 68:31 with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. Setting the Scene: Two Passages, One Heartbeat “Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.” “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Seeing God’s Global Mission in Psalm 68:31 • Egypt and Cush (ancient Ethiopia/Sudan) represent the outer edges of Israel’s known world—nations once famed for idolatry, now pictured willingly reaching toward Israel’s God. • The verse is prophetic, anticipating a day when peoples far beyond Israel’s borders will gladly seek the LORD (see Isaiah 19:21; Zephaniah 3:10). • It echoes God’s original promise to bless “all the families of the earth” through Abraham (Genesis 12:3). • The picture: royal emissaries coming in submission, hands upraised in worship—foreshadowing global discipleship. The Great Commission: God’s Plan Made Explicit • Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20 calls His followers to what Psalm 68 foretold: people from every nation becoming worshipers. • “All nations” translates the Greek panta ta ethnē—every ethnic group without distinction or exclusion. • The mandate has three verbs: – Go (cross borders) – Make disciples (lead to obedient faith) – Baptize and teach (incorporate into covenant life) • Christ’s promise, “I am with you always,” guarantees the success of what the psalm envisioned. Threading the Two Passages Together 1. Promise → Commission – Psalm 68:31 shows God’s intent; Matthew 28:19-20 gives the marching orders. 2. Nations in View – Egypt and Cush are specific samples pointing to universal scope; Jesus broadens it to “all nations.” 3. Worship as the Goal – “Stretch out hands to God” (Psalm) parallels “make disciples” who obey everything Christ commanded (Matthew). 4. Divine Presence – Psalm 68 celebrates God “riding through the heavens” (v. 33); Jesus assures His presence “to the very end of the age.” How the Early Church Saw the Connection • Acts 1:8 echoes both passages: witness “to the ends of the earth.” • Acts 8:26-39 records the Ethiopian official—direct fulfillment as Cush begins to stretch out hands to God. • Acts 13-28 traces emissaries (Paul and companions) bringing the gospel to Gentile capitals, mirroring “envoys” coming and going. • Revelation 5:9 shows the ultimate outcome: redeemed people “from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Personal Takeaways for Today • God’s heart for the nations has never changed; Psalm 68:31 proves it, the Great Commission enlists us in it. • Geographic or cultural distance does not exempt anyone; Egypt and Cush were distant then, yet God singled them out. • Confidence flows from Christ’s presence; the same God who foretold global worship now empowers it. • Participation can range from crossing oceans to crossing the street, but indifference is not an option for those who love the Savior. |
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