Psalms 117:2

"Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!"

Key Reflection

Praised be the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! This verse would have resonated deeply with the original audience as a call to universal praise and worship of God, extending beyond just Israelites but including all nations and people groups. In an age where religious and political boundaries were often blurred, this exhortation urged even those who might not have shared the same traditions or beliefs to join in recognizing God’s sovereignty and goodness, reflecting a theme of inclusivity that was both radical for its time and foundational for later Christian missions.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

For his merciful kindness is great toward us -His kindness; his compassion; his love. All nations - all people - may say this, and therefore the psalm is adapted to universal praise. Especially may this be said in view of the love of God to mankind in the gift of a Saviour - a Saviour not for any one people especially or exclusively, but for the world,John 3:16. And the truth of the Lord endureth for ever -All that God has said: his declarations; his promises; his assurances of mercy. They are the same in all lands where they are made known, and they are the same in all ages of the world. Truth is a representation of things as they are; and truth, therefore, must be ever the same.

More from Psalms 117

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