Embrace the Word for Wednesday, September 16, 2026

FOR AN AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE

Psalm 117 is a summons for all the nations of peoples to praise the LORD. Psalm 117 is the last of a subunit of Psalms in Book 5 of the Psalter. This subunit of Psalms (except for Psalm 114), each share the phrase “Praise the LORD!” Like Psalm 113, Psalm 117 has this call at its beginning and its end. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter of the Psalter (as well as the Bible), and yet it covers the grandest of Biblical themes: the worldwide worship of the One true God. There are 1189 chapters in the English Bible. Interestingly, while chapters and verses were much later additions to the Bible, Psalm 117 is at the halfway point of the English Bible—there are 594 chapters before Psalm 117 and there are 594 chapters after. This center chapter offers, in summary form, the central message of the Bible. The ultimate point of all that God reveals in His Word—all that He does, all that He describes, all that He demands, as well as all that He provides, promises, and plans leads somewhere. The Apostle Paul restates the ultimate point as he wrote to the Ephesian church: “to the praise of his glorious grace…to the praise of his glory…to the praise of his glory” (See Ephesians 1:6,12,14). Psalm 117 plays a key role in orienting us to the reality of this grand purpose. Psalm 117 begins and concludes with a call to praise (117:1a,2b). In between the Psalmist states the reason for this call (117:1b-2a).

Psalm 117 opens with a call to praise: “Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!” (117:1). This call has been an integral part of five of the six previous Psalms (Psalms 111-113, 115-116). Altogether, these “Hallelujah” Psalms were traditionally sung by the Jewish people as a part of their Passover Celebrations. As Jesus and His disciples had finished the first Lord’s Supper, which was during Passover, they most likely sang these “Hallelujah” Psalms (See Matthew 26:30). The second line with calls for extolling the LORD is essentially restating the call to praise the LORD. What is most important to notice is not the emphatic call to praise the LORD, but the ones who are being called to this praise. The call is set forth before “all nations,” that is, “all peoples.” The scope of the call is not merely for the nation Israel, but for all nations of peoples. The very nations and peoples who have raged and plotted against the LORD (See Psalm 2:1), are summoned to glorify God by worshipping Him. Psalm 117 is setting forth a vision of the worship of God that is worldwide in scope. While this is not the first Psalm to allude to this reality (See Psalms 67:3-4; 72:11; 86:9; 87:4-7; 113:4), its placement highlights that right in the very structural heart of the Bible is the very heart of the LORD for the nations. The nations, which will be defeated by the King and Priest of Psalm 110, are now summoned to join in praise to the LORD.

The reason behind the summons for all nations of peoples to praise the LORD is the witness of the LORD’s people: “For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever” (117:2a). Drawing from Exodus 34:6, which is arguably the Old Testament authors favorite verse, the effects of the steadfast love and faithfulness of the LORD on Israel will result in the nations seeing the praiseworthiness of the LORD. The LORD’s plans were never restricted to Israel alone. From the earliest promises made to Abraham, the LORD promised not only a great nation for him, but also for all nations to be blessed through him: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (See Genesis 12:2-3). In the immediate aftermath of Israel’s rescue from Egypt, the LORD called His rescued nation to represent Him before all the nations: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel” (See Exodus 19:5-6). The nation Israel was to relish in the steadfast love and faithfulness of the LORD so that they would display before all the nations the kind of God that the LORD is. Even as King Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, he clearly acknowledged the role that the worship of God was to have as a witness to the nations: “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name” (See 1 Kings 8:41-43).

Throughout Israel’s history, they were to experience the steadfast love and faithfulness of the LORD and to make known the greatness of God to the nations: “Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” (See Psalm 96:2-3; See also Psalm 67:1-4a). Even Israel’s return to the Promised Land after their captivity had an element of testimony to the nations: “And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land” (See Ezekiel 36:23-24). As Israel would be captivated by the steadfast love and faithfulness of the LORD, they would worship the One true God. The effects of the LORD’s steadfast love and faithfulness upon Israel, coupled with their earnest worship to the LORD, would show the nations the saving power of God: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds” (See Psalm 108:3-4). The LORD’s people were directed to praise the LORD “among the nations,” with a view for the nations to join them. The nations who asked “Where is their God?” (See Psalm 115:2) will be brought to know and turn to that God: “The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (See Isaiah 52:10). As Israel would take the lead in declaring: “Praise the LORD!” (117:2b), the nations would join in the song.

As we reflect on Psalm 117, we can consider how the theme of praise described in the Old Testament comes to full fruition in the New Testament. The emphasis in Psalm 117 concerning the steadfast love and faithfulness of the LORD finds expression in the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle John, drawing from the Old Testament language of steadfast love and faithfulness, identifies Jesus as God in the flesh who embodies the same qualities: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (See John 1:14). With the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ, the essential link between the promises of the Abrahamic covenant and the fulfillment of those promises being extended to the nations becomes a realization: “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ…And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (See Galatians 3:16,29). Being a recipient of the promises given to Abraham come through trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. Any and all who trust Jesus, regardless of their ethnicity or nationality receive all the blessings of God’s promises. Speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul explains: “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (See 2 Corinthians 1:20). The Lord Jesus lived and died to bring all who would trust in Him into right relationship with God. The final result of what Christ accomplished will be a collection of all nations and all peoples praising the LORD: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (See Revelation 7:9-10).

That’s all for Embrace the Word for Wednesday, September 16, 2026. I look forward to being back with you for the Friday, September 18, 2026 episode of Embrace the Word as we take a look at Psalm 118.