Psalms 117

The shortest of the Psalms is one of the grandest. Its invitation to all nations to join in praising Jehovah for His goodness to Israel is virtually a recognition that the ultimate object of Israel’s calling was the salvation of the world. Cp. Psalms 67; Psalms 22:27; Psalms 86:9. It is in the truest sense a Messianic Psalm, and it is quoted by St Paul in Romans 15:11 as one of the Scriptures which foretold the extension of God’s mercy to the Gentiles in Christ. The occasion of the Psalm may have been the restoration of Israel from exile (cp. Psalms 98:2-3), or some subsequent special proof of God’s goodness towards His people. Owing to its brevity it is joined to the preceding or the following Psalm in many MSS; but it is not suitable either as the conclusion of the one, or as the beginning of the other.

Psalms 117:1

1. Praise Jehovah, all ye nations, Laud him all ye peoples. Two different words for praise are used.

Psalms 117:2

2. For mighty hath been his lovingkindness toward us] Mighty as Israel’s transgressions have been (Psalms 65:3), God’s mercy has been mightier (Psalms 103:11-12; cp. Romans 5:20; 1 Timothy 1:14). Lovingkindness and truth are fundamental attributes of Jehovah’s character (Psalms 115:1, and often). St Paul unites them in the proposition in support of which he quotes Psalms 117:1. “I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given unto the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy” (Romans 15:8-9).