The doxology. This is the shortest psalm, but it is long enough to show— I. THAT THERE IS ONE SUPREME OBJECT OF WORSHIP FOR ALL MEN . It is Jehovah, the Lord. He and he alone. Three times in this short psalm is this affirmed. 1. The atheism by whatever name it is called—of the day denies this , saying, either God does not exist, or, if he does, we cannot know it. 2. False ideas of the Trinity practically deny this . Many Christians are... read more
For his merciful kindness (or, his mercy) is great towards us ; literally, has been great over us . The appeal is to history, and the mercy intended is that shown in God's continual protection of Israel. And the truth of the Lord endureth forever . God's "truth" is here, as so often, his faithfulness to his promises, the promises being especially those made to Abraham and David. His mercy and truth" to Israel were an indication of what the Gentiles might expect of him in his... read more
God's merciful dealings with nations. The psalmist, no doubt, refers to the character of God's dealings with Israel, but he implies that they do but present a model of God's dealings with all nations; and he calls upon those nations to examine and. see what God's dealings had been with them , so that they might find cause for praise. The early Jews realized monotheism as a special possession of their nation. The later prophets and psalmists realized monotheism as a trust, concerning... read more
Truth regarded as reliability. "The truth of the Lord endureth for ever." The term "truth" is constantly employed without a well-defined and precise meaning. Truth sometimes only means that which seems true to a particular individual at a particular time. Sometimes it only means " veracity ," or the correspondence between a proposition and a man's belief. Truth is the correspondence of the proposition with fact. There is a standard truth. It is close kin with eternal righteousness. The... read more
Praise. "Praise ye the Lord." It may be interesting to inquire what "praise" is; and what are the proper forms and features of human praise as offered to God. What praise does God reasonably demand? And what praise is man, at his best, able to offer? But those considerations may lead us into somewhat familiar lines. There may be some freshness in considering what the response to this call, what the offering of this praise, is to men . It is a glorifying of God; but it is also a... read more
O praise the Lord, all ye nations - The idea is that God has a claim to universal worship, and that all the nations of the earth are under obligations to adore him as the true God. He is not the God of the Hebrew people only, but of all people; his praise should be celebrated not merely by one nation, but by all. This is one of the passages in the Old Testament, anticipating what is more fully disclosed in the New Testament, in which the sacred writer extends his vision beyond the narrow... read more
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... read more
Psalms 117:1-2. O praise the Lord, all ye nations Let not the praises that are due to the great Lord of all, be confined to our nation; but let all people upon the face of the earth praise him. For his merciful kindness is great toward us Toward all the children of Adam, whether carnal or spiritual, for he hath done mighty things for all mankind; and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever The Lord, who changes not, will not fail to perform his faithful promises to the world’s end.... read more
Psalms 115-117 Saved from deathGod was always faithful to Israel, though the Israelites were often unfaithful to him. Their sins brought God’s punishment upon them, causing their pagan neighbours to mock them with the accusation that their God was unable to help them and had deserted them (115:1-2). The Israelites reply that their God is alive and in full control. The pagan gods, by contrast, are useless, and the reason they are useless is that they are lifeless. Those who trust in them will... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 117:1-2
The kingdom of God. The psalmist, consciously or unconsciously, anticipates the glories of the kingdom of God, as that is now being established under the reign of Christ. We have— I. ITS STRONG FOUNDATION . It is founded on mercy and truth. Not on irresistible power, not on unchangeable law, but on Divine mercy and truth. 1. God's mercy to mankind, secured by the redeeming work, and promised by the unchanging word, of Jesus Christ, is one stone of that foundation. 2. The... read more