Psalm 117: Praise the Lord!

Key Verse
1 Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
 
Meditation
Faith focused on God and His eternal purpose fuels worship of God for His faithfulness, claiming the fullness of His promises even before they are realized. God will keep His covenant promises to bless people from every nation!
 
The shortest song in the Psalter has the broadest scope of impact, beginning with calling “all nations” to praise the Lord and “all peoples” to worship Israel’s covenant God. The scope of this song of salvation is undergirded by God’s revelation. The Lord is Creator (Genesis 1-2) who calls His people to Himself and commissions them to “bless all the nations of the earth” (Genesis 12:1-3).  God’s covenant purposes are confirmed in Revelation 7:9 where people from every tribe, tongue, and nation are in worshipful celebration around the throne of the Lamb.
 
God’s “great steadfast love” (v. 2) toward Israel is confirmed by His faithfulness that endures forever. One way God’s faithfulness is seen is through His commitment to His promises, in this case to bless all the nations with salvation through the person and work of Jesus, leading to eternal celebration. Paul quotes this Psalm in Romans 15:8-10 where he describes God’s faithfulness to reach every nation as a “display of God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promise given to the patriarchs.” Amen and Amen.
 
God is faithful and we must trust His word. God will keep His promises, not least of which is for worship to rise from every nation, tongue, and tribe. Let us worship the Lord of nations and seek ways of participation in His work of redemptive restoration!
 
Today’s Reading
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!
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which aspect of the scope of this Psalm speaks the most to you, the breadth of God’s mission (every nation) or the depth of God’s faithfulness?
 
-God rules over the nations and is working worship from every people in every place of the globe. Do you believe this? Why is it significant that the apostle Paul did?
 
-How can you trust God’s promise through participating in His purposes? If God is truly truthful to His promises then should it not have radical implications for your life? How?
 
Key Verse
1 Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!