Psalms 117

Universal Call to Worship

¹Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!

²For his loving kindness is great toward us. The LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, consisting of just two verses that issue a universal call for all nations and peoples to praise the LORD. The psalm provides two foundational reasons for this worldwide worship: God's great loving kindness toward his people and his eternal faithfulness. This brief but profound hymn emphasizes the global scope of God's reign and the universal obligation to acknowledge his character and deeds.

Context

This shortest psalm serves as a bridge between the longer praise psalms surrounding it, reinforcing the theme of God's universal sovereignty found throughout Psalms 113-118.

Key Themes

Outline

1
Universal Call to Praise All nations and peoples are summoned to praise and extol the LORD.
2
Reasons for Praise God's great loving kindness and eternal faithfulness provide the basis for universal worship.

Universal Call to Worship

117:1–117:2

poetry exhortation joyful

A brief universal call for all nations and peoples to praise the LORD for his great loving kindness and eternal faithfulness.

structural

Despite being the Bible's shortest psalm at only two verses, Psalm 117 uniquely addresses "all nations" and "all peoples" with Hebrew terms *goyim* and *le'ummim* that typically refer to Gentiles, making it remarkably inclusive for ancient Israelite literature.

Insight Literary Structure