What does "peoples and inhabitants" signify about God's plan for diverse worship? Setting the Scene The verse highlights the phrase “peoples and inhabitants.” God does not waste words. Each term expands our view of His worship plan: • “Peoples” – ethnic groups, clans, nations, cultures. • “Inhabitants” – every individual who dwells on the earth, regardless of background or status. Together they sweep in the whole spectrum of humanity, assuring us that diverse worship is not a later idea but woven into God’s original design. Old Testament Echoes • Psalm 67:3 – “May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You.” • Isaiah 56:7 – “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” • Zechariah 8:22 – “So many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.” From the Law to the Prophets, God repeatedly signals that every tongue and tribe will one day sing the same song of praise. New Testament Fulfillment • Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” • Acts 2:5–11 – Jews “from every nation under heaven” hear the gospel in their own languages at Pentecost. • Revelation 7:9 – “A great multitude… from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne.” The New Testament shows the promise in motion: Christ’s atoning work breaks down barriers (Ephesians 2:14) so that worship becomes a global chorus. Why Two Words Matter • Inclusiveness – “Peoples” guards us from limiting God’s family to one ethnicity; “inhabitants” reaches down to the single person on the street. • Universality – Together they declare that no geographic, cultural, or social boundary can exclude someone from bowing before the Lord. • Mission Mandate – If the end vision is every people and every inhabitant, the church’s present task is clear: proclaim the gospel everywhere (Romans 10:14–15). Christ at the Center Jesus is the unifying figure who makes diverse worship possible: • John 12:32 – “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” • Ephesians 1:10 – God’s plan is “to bring together all things in Christ.” Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female—each finds a place at His feet. Practical Takeaways • Value diversity in worship styles, languages, and cultural expressions, knowing they mirror heaven’s ensemble. • Support missions and translation work that carry the Bible to new “peoples and inhabitants.” • Welcome believers from different backgrounds into fellowship, demonstrating the gospel’s reconciling power. God’s Word leaves no doubt: “peoples and inhabitants” means everyone, everywhere, all invited to glorify Him together. |
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