PSALM 117, the shortest chapter in the Bible, but that doesn't mean that it does not contain a lot of great information. It is a call for universal praise unto the God (Jehovah) of all the Universe. Just think about of greatness of God as we go to Isaiah 55:8-9, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. This chapter contains all three elements of the hymn of praise (vs. 1) a call to praise (vs. 2 a, b) and a cause for praise (vs. 2c) a conclusion, a "praise ye the Lord."

Psalm 117

1. O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him all ye people. All Nations, both Jew and Gentile should praise Him forever for all the Great things He has done. 2. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord. We should never cease to praise the Lord and give thanks to Him for all the many, many wonderful blessings. We should praise the Lord for His virgin birth, His sinless life, His many miracles too numerous for us to comprehend. We should praise Him for His sacrifical death, for suffering the brutal beatings, shedding His precious and sinless, innocent incorruptiable blood taking our place on the cross with our sins and paying our sin debt in full, a debt we could not pay and a debt He did not owe. Oh! What a Savior! Praise His Holy Name forever!!! HE IS THE ONE & ONLY SAVIOR!

We should praise Him for His great work of creation. HE CREATED IT ALL! John 1:3 "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." In the New Testament Paul quotes verse 1 of this Psalm in Romans 15 vs. 11, "And again, Praise The Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud Him, all ye people." (Laud; Praise). Unity of the Jews and Gentiles has always been God's plan. Jesus said in; Luke 24:46, "......Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

We should never cease to praise God for including the Gentiles in His plan. In verse one of this Psalm, we are called upon to praise God and indeed we should with exceeding and overflowing joy. And we see the cause for praise in verse two;

"For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord." In Eph. 3:6 Paul wrote, "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." There was a time when the Gentiles were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, without Christ, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world, according to; Ephesians 2:12 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." vs.13. Vs. 14 "For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." Jesus has formed the two groups, Jews and Gentiles who are saved, into a single body, the Christian Church. Romans 15:9; "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to Thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto Thy name."

David, in Psalm 18:49 wrote, "Therefore will I give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto Thy name." (heathen; gentiles or nations). Praise God! He is interested in saving both Jews and Gentiles and uniting all into one Body, the Church, of whom Christ is the head. Yes, the truth of the Lord endureth forever, therefore His promises are sure and it is impossible for Him to fail anyone or any nation at any time. "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." (Psalm 29:2)

Praise God for the one and only Savior of both Jews and Gentiles, the Lord Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).

In Christ,
Evangelist R. E. Layne