Psalms 86:9

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

Psalms 86:9 (KJV)

Context

Psalm 86 is a prayer of David. In this verse, David speaks of God as the Creator of every nation. Because God made all peoples, He holds rightful authority over them. The verse is a confident declaration, not a distant hope. David is certain that the day will come when every nation will worship the Lord. This certainty rests on God’s character and His power to create. The nations do not exist by chance; they exist because God formed them. Therefore, they owe Him honor. The verse is not a wish but a promise that will surely be fulfilled.

Meaning

The phrase “All nations whom thou hast made” shows that God’s power to create is the foundation for His right to receive worship. Because He is the Creator, He has the authority to draw all peoples to Himself. The verse names two actions: they “shall come and worship” and they “shall glorify thy name.” Worship means bowing before God in reverence and surrender. Glorifying His name means declaring that He is great and worthy of praise. Both actions belong together. True worship always leads to glorifying God. This is not merely a hope but a confident declaration of what will surely happen. The universality of this worship is central: it extends beyond Israel to every people group, every race, and every background. This points to the inclusivity of the gospel, where people from every nation will be gathered.

Biblical connections

This promise of universal worship appears in other places. In Revelation 7:9, John sees a great multitude from every nation standing before the throne. That vision matches David’s words. The gospel goes out to all peoples, and God gathers worshippers from every tribe and tongue. The Creator who made all nations is also the Redeemer who draws them to Himself. This theme resonates with the broader biblical narrative of God’s redemptive plan for the world, culminating in the worship of all peoples. The future worship of all nations is a testament to God’s glory and the fulfillment of His purposes.

Application

This verse calls us to recognize God’s sovereignty over every people group. We should not think of Him as the God of only one culture or land. He is Lord of all. We can also embrace the diversity of worship among believers from different backgrounds. Their expressions of praise may differ, but they honor the same God. Most importantly, we are invited to share the good news so that more nations may come and worship. Our prayers and efforts in missions take part in fulfilling this promise. This verse encourages us to participate in worship now and to anticipate the day when every nation will bow before Him. It also serves as a motivation for prayer and mission, as we long for the fulfillment of this promise.

Reflection

David’s certainty gives us confidence. God’s purposes cannot fail. The day is coming when every nation will bow before Him. Until then, we worship now, and we long for that final gathering. Our worship today is a small foretaste of the great worship that will fill the earth. The certainty of this future event should inspire confidence in God’s ultimate victory and the spread of His glory.