Celebrating Diversity in God's Multicultural Kingdom
The concept of God's multicultural kingdom is rooted in biblical texts that envision a diverse assembly of peoples worshipping God. From the earliest books, God's blessing to Abraham includes the promise that he would "become a company of peoples" [2]. This theme is further developed in the Psalms, which frequently call upon "all ye nations" to praise the Lord [3].
Psalm 47, for instance, celebrates God's kingship over all the earth, noting that both Israel and the nations participate in God's kingdom and are called to praise Him as the sovereign king [6]. Similarly, Psalm 98 depicts the establishment of Christ's kingdom as a cause for universal joy and praise, inviting "all the children of men" to rejoice in its benefits [5]. The prophet Zephaniah also foretells a time when people from beyond Israel will be brought to acknowledge and worship God, including the rich and the poor, who will unite in celebrating God's delivering power [8].
The idea of a blessed nation whose God is the Lord, while having a primary reference to Israel, is not exclusively limited to them but extends to a "chosen generation, the holy nation and peculiar people, both among Jews and Gentiles" [9]. This perspective emphasizes that God is the God of all grace, not just of nature and providence [9]. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Hebrews, reinforces the idea of God's continuous blessing and multiplication of Abraham's spiritual descendants, noting that genuine Christians, regardless of their background, are considered Abraham's seed [10].
The unity within this diversity is not a uniformity of doctrine imposed by human traditions, but a shared adherence to the singular, consistent doctrine of the Scriptures, Christ, and His apostles, in contrast to "divers and strange doctrines" [7]. The call to "bless the Lord" extends to the "house of Israel" and also to the "spiritual Israel," or the "household of God and of faith," who are chosen and redeemed [4]. This inclusive vision is encapsulated in the exhortation, "In ecclesiis benedicite Deo Domino de fontibus Israël" (In the churches bless ye God the Lord from the fountains of Israel) [1].
Sources
- Psalms “In ecclesiis benedicite Deo Domino de fontibus Israël. -- Psalms 67:27”
- Genesis “Genesis 28:3 (BSB) — May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 117:1: O praise the Lord, all ye nations,.... The Lord having chosen, and Christ having redeemed, some out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation; and the Gospel being sent and preached to all nations, and some of each being called and converted by the Spirit of God; they are excited to praise the Lord, Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit, for their several acts of divine grace and kindness towards them, in choosing, redeeming, and sanctifying them; and in favouring them with the Gospel, and the ordinances of it, and with his gracious presence in them; and in supplying th”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 135:18: Bless the Lord, O house of Israel,.... Who are chosen by the Lord to be a special people to him above all others; redeemed from Egyptian bondage; through a variety of surprising providences brought into and settled in the land of Canaan; distinguished by various blessings, favoured with the word, worship, and ordinances of God, and not left to worship idols of gold and silver, as other nations; and therefore had great reason to bless the Lord: as also the spiritual Israel, or the household of God and of faith, the family of Christ; and that because they are of his f”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 98:4: The setting up of the kingdom of Christ is here represented as a matter of joy and praise. I. Let all the children of men rejoice in it, for they all have, or may have, benefit by it. Again and again we are here called upon by all ways and means possible to express our joy in it and give God praise for it: Make a joyful noise, as before, Psa 95:1, Psa 95:2. Make a loud noise, as those that are affected with those glad tidings and are desirous to affect others with them. Rejoice and sing praise, sing Hosannas (Mat 21:9), sing Hallelujahs, Rev 19:6. Let him be welco”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 47:1: Ps 47 This psalm celebrates God’s kingship over all the earth; it tells of God’s victory in dealing with Israel and the nations. Both Israel (47:3-4) and the nations (47:9) participate in God’s kingdom. 47:1-2 As the sovereign king over the nations, God requires praise. 47:1 People clap their hands in praise and recognition of marvelous deeds (47:3-4; see 98:8; Isa 55:12; cp. Nah 3:19).”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,.... The word "divers" may denote the variety and multitude of other doctrines; referring either to the various rites and ceremonies of the law, or to the traditions of the elders, or to the several doctrines of men, whether Jews or Gentiles; whereas the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece; and so may likewise denote the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth, the anal”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 22:27: His case illustrates God's righteous government. Beyond the existing time and people, others shall be brought to acknowledge and worship God; the fat ones, or the rich as well as the poor, the helpless who cannot keep themselves alive, shall together unite in celebrating God's delivering power, and transmit to unborn people the records of His grace.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 33:12: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,.... Who have an interest in such a wonder working God, both in creation and in providence, and especially in grace: which, though it may have a principal regard to the nation of Israel, whose God he was in a very distinguishing manner, yet must not be limited to them; for he is the God of the Gentiles also: this nation is the chosen generation, the holy nation and peculiar people, both among Jews and Gentiles; and the Lord is the God of these; not only as the God of nature and providence, but as the God of all grace; who m”
- Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 6:14: Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee - I will continue to bless thee. Multiplying I will multiply thee - I will continue to increase thy posterity. In the most literal manner God continues to fulfill this promise; genuine Christians are Abraham's seed, and God is increasing their number daily. See the notes on Gen 22:12-18 (note); and Gen 23:1 (note).”