Psalms 117

Psalms 117:1-2

Psalms 117THIS, which is the shortest psalm in the collection, has evidently no independent character or even meaning of its own, but was designed to be a chorus or doxology to a longer composition. Its position is sufficiently accounted for by the assumption, that it was primarily meant to serve the purpose just described with reference to the psalm or to the trilogy immediately preceding; while its being separately written as an independent psalm may have arisen from the purpose to use it sometimes in a different connection, with which view it would naturally be left moveable, like the doxologies in our modern books, which may be attached to any psalm or hymn, at the discretion of the person who conducts the service.

1. (Psalms 117:1) Praise Jehovah, all ye nations; laud him, all ye peoples. The last word is a different plural from that in Genesis 25:16, Numbers 25:15, and belongs, no doubt, to the later Hebrew. Here, as in Psalms 47:1; Psalms 66:8; Psalms 98:4, the whole world is invited to praise God for his favours shewn to Israel.

2. (Psalms 117:2) For mighty over us has been his mercy, and the truth of Jehovah (is) to eternity. Hallelujah! The verb at the beginning means not merely to be great, but to be strong or powerful. See above, on Psalms 103:11. The preposition over suggests the idea of protection, or, if translated on, that of favour descending from above.