Psalm 117 - Praise Him for His Great Lovingkindness and Truth Everlasting

Introduction

Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.”

The psalmist took that instruction to heart with Psalm 117! But its small package packs a big punch. In these two verses are contained God’s plan for the world and how the world is to respond to God.

This is the next to last psalm in the ‘Egyptian Hallel’ that group of psalms that Israel sang to celebrate their divine rescue from Egypt during the Exodus.

What was God doing as He brought Israel out of slavery, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land? In short, He was keeping promises—promises that were and will be ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Let’s notice a few things about Psalm 117…

Major Ideas

#1: The Command: “Praise the LORD… Laud Him...” (v. 1)

How does your translation give the command of v. 1?

[EXP] One definition I read said that ‘praise’ could mean to shine a light. That is, as we praise God we shine a light on who He is and what He has done for us.

The word ‘laud’ (NASB) is much rarer word than ‘praise’. It only appears 7 times in the OT. But it too could mean ‘praise’, ‘extol’, or ‘glorify.’

When I think of praising God I think of two things: (1) Singing and (2) Testifying. How do we make sure that what we sing in church praises God? How do we make sure that our testifying praises God?

[ILLUS] Think of John the Baptist’s statement about Jesus, “I must decrease; He must increase!” John was a man in the spotlight but praised and lauded Jesus by rightfully throwing the spotlight on Him.

[APP] No matter how we praise the Lord, we should always check to be sure that the light is shining on the right person. If the light is shining on us, then the light is shining on the wrong person. If the light is shining on God, then we are truly praising.

#2: Those Commanded: “Praise the Lord, all the nations; Laud Him, all peoples!” (v. 1)

Does your translation have something different that ‘nations’ and ‘peoples’?

[EXP] The word ‘nations’ refers to geographic territories or people groups outside of Israel. The word ‘peoples’ refers to ethnic groups other than Israel. In other words, all ethnicities from all over the world are called to praise the LORD. Every nation. Every family.

How is it that every nation and family was going to come praise Yahweh? Yahweh was bringing salvation to the world through His people Israel.

This was the promise of God from the beginning. He told the serpent (i.e., Satan) in Genesis 3:15…

Genesis 3:15 NASB95

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

In Adam, all men fell to the temptation of Satan and sinned against God. The price for sin is death but God promised a seed of woman who would crush Satan, sin, and death.

This seed would come through Abraham and his descendents; God telling Abraham in Genesis 12:1, “And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Abraham had Isaac.

Isaac had Jacob whose name was changed to ‘Israel’ when he wrestled with God.

Jacob had twelve sons, the twelve tribes of Israel.

And from the tribe of Judah would come the Davidic kings who God promised would sit on the throne of Israel forever.

This seed of the woman, seed of Abraham, seed of Judah, seed of David arrived in the virgin birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

This was the plan of God all along, promised through the pages of the OT. In Romans 15, the Apostle Paul included Psalm 117:1 in series of OT verses showing that God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises toward Israel resulted in Jews and Gentiles praising God through Christ Jesus. Turn and look at Romans 15:8-12...

Romans 15:8–12 NASB95

8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, And I will sing to Your name.” 10 Again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him.” 12 Again Isaiah says, “There shall come the root of Jesse, And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope.”

It may have looked like Satan had won in the garden of Eden, but through the seed of the woman God was saving the world.

It may have looked like ol’ pagan Abram wouldn’t amount to much, but though his descendents God was saving the world.

It may have looked like a shepherd boy named David was the last one who should be king, but from his line God was saving the world.

It may have looked like a baby born of a young unmarried woman—born in a manger—it may have looked like that baby was of no account.

But for Him the angels sang.

And in His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection—all the promises of God are ‘Yes!’ and ‘Amen!’

Satan, sin, and death are defeated.

And through Him all the families of the earth are blessed.

What is your favorite part of the OT that points to Jesus? The scarlet cord in Rahab's window? The manna from heaven which prefigures Jesus as the bread of life? The high priest who has to offer sacrifices for himself unlike Jesus who offers Himself as the perfect sacrifice?

[APP] The major key to being a good Bible student is understanding that the whole Bible is about Jesus. It either points to Him, centers on Him, or flows from Him. Anyone who tells you otherwise is simply wrong.

Is there a book of the Bible that you have a hard time seeing as ‘about Jesus’?

It may difficult to see Jesus in some parts of the OT, but let’s study to see Him more clearly. The Bible is the historical record of God keeping His promises in Jesus through who all the world is called to praise God.

#3: The Reason for the Command: “For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting.” (v. 2)

How does your translation have v. 2?

[EXP] ‘Lovingkindness’ is God’s loyalty based on a covenant relationship.

What’s a covenant? A formal agreement between two parties that establishes a relationship.

What covenant was Israel under? The Mosaic Covenant or Covenant of Law.

Can the Mosaic Covenant save us? No. Romans 3:20 says, “by works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” So the Law condemns us as sinners but it cannot save us.

What covenant are we under? The New Covenant

What’s different about the New Covenant in Christ’s blood? Through faith in Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, God’s Law is written on our hearts and God’s Spirit lives within us. The Law condemns us to die. Jesus died for us so that we can be brought from death to life through faith in Him.

Verse 2 also mentions God’s ‘truth’ or ‘faithfulness’. One thing I read said that this word is actually the root word for our English word ‘Amen’. It’s fitting that ‘amen’ should remind us of God’s faithfulness at the end of our prayers.

But these two attributes of God—His lovingkindness and His faithfulness—are often held together as they are here in Psalm 117:2 to show us that God is perfectly reliable in keeping His promises.

What two descriptions of God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness are given in v. 2? His lovingkindness is great toward us. His faithfulness (i.e., truth) is everlasting.

God will never stop being faithful. He will never stop being true. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

When v. 2 says that God’s lovingkindness ‘is great toward us’, it could literally be translated: ‘God’s lovingkindness prevails over us’ or ‘God’s lovingkindness protects us’.

How do you think God’s lovingkindness prevailed over Israel? How do you think it prevails over us? God’s lovingkindness, His unfailing love, overcame Israel’s frequent rebellion in bring Jesus to the world. God’s lovingkindness conquers our sin and unbelief just as it brings us to Jesus.

How do you think God’s lovingkindness protected Israel? How do you think it protects us? God’s lovingkindness protected Israel from itself. Israel would have destroyed itself long before Jesus if not for God’s lovingkindness. In the same way, God’s lovingkindness protects us from falling away from Jesus and will keep us clinging to Jesus until we see Him.

In all of this, God is great toward us.

Conclusion

Our response to all of this should be to praise God. Thus the Psalm 117 ends with the command repeated, “Praise the LORD!”