PSALM 117

Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! 2 For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

PSALM 117:1-2

PRAISE THE LORD, ALL NATIONS

Sometimes the most profound truths are shared not in long flowing verse and meter, but in short pithy statements. This short Psalm begins in such a brief but profound way. The Psalmist calls for all nations to praise the Lord!

Though the Lord has chosen the nation of Israel, He loves all peoples. The Nation of Israel was to be a missionary nation to its neighbors. The Old Testament is filled with laws that made them peculiar to their neighbors. These peculiarities weren’t just there to make them different but to point the surrounding nations to the LORD!

The church was founded with a call to take the gospel to the nations. When the Lord ascended the disciples were told to go to Jerusalem and wait for Holy Spirit. Luke, the writer or Acts, goes a long way to illustrate that the disciples weren’t from Jerusalem, they were from Galilee. He uses the term Galileans or men of Galilee over and over in the first few chapters

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? “And how [is it that] we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

Acts 2:5-8

We are given the picture in Revelation that Jesus has redeemed people from all nations who will be gathered around to worship the Lord! What a great day that will be! The Lord is worthy of praise from people of all nations!

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Revelation 5:9

PRAYER

Father, I can’t imagine what that scene will be like gathered around your throne with people of all nations declaring your praise! You are worthy of praise from people of every tongue, tribe, and nation! Give me grace and opportunity to be a witness to everyone I encounter this week. I pray for opportunities to declare your praise and tell others of your goodness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.