Psalms 117
Big idea: Two verses — the shortest chapter in the Bible — and its subject is everybody. Praise Yahweh, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! The reason given is not about them: his loving kindness is great toward us. Israel's experience of God is offered to the whole world as sufficient grounds for the whole world to sing. Paul quotes it in Romans 15 as one of his proofs that Gentile worship was always the plan.
Psalm 117 is two verses long. Psalm 118 closes the Hallel and hands the church its Palm Sunday shout.
117:1–2 — Praise Yahweh, all you nations
The shortest psalm in the Psalter, and it does one thing: it tells the nations to praise Israel's God, and gives them a reason that is about Israel — his loving kindness toward US. The logic only works if what happened to one people is good news for everyone else, which is exactly why Paul quotes it in Romans 15 among his proofs that the Gentiles were always in view.
1 Praise Yahweh, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! 2 For his loving kindness is great toward us. Yahweh’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise Yah!
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).