Psalm 117

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 117:1

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 117:2

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 117

A.M. 2964. B.C. 1040. “This Psalm,” says Bishop Patrick, “like the 110th, seems to be altogether prophetical of the joy that all the world should conceive, at the coming of the Messiah, to give salvation first to the Jews, and then to all other nations, according to his faithful promise. St. Paul applies the first words of it to this purpose, Romans 15:11 . And some of the Jews themselves justify this application.” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 117:1-2

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 117:1-2

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 117:1

praise, &c. Quoted in Romans 15:11 . the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. with ' eth = Jehovah Himself. App-4 . Praise = Laud. See note on Psalms 63:3 . people = peoples. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 117:2

merciful kindness = lovingkindness, or grace. is great toward = overcame, or prevailed over. Compare Psalms 103:11 . Praise ye THE LORD. Hebrew Hallelu-Jah. App-4 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 117:1

PSALM 117THE SALVATION OF THE GENTILES WAS DERIVED FROM GOD'S BLESSINGS UPON ISRAEL"This is the shortest chapter in the Bible, and the middle chapter."[1] Some have called it a doxology, but it is far more than that. It is a Messianic Psalm of the first rank, entitled to stand in the canon as an independent composition. It has even been attached to other psalms as an introduction, or as a conclusion, "But in the versions and all the principal manuscripts, it is always separate."[2]The psalm is... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 117:1

Psalms 117:0. An exhortation to praise God for his mercy and truth. THIS psalm, like the 110th, seems to be altogether prophetical of the joy which all nations should conceive at the coming of the Messiah; to give salvation first to the Jews, and then to all other nations, according to his truth, Psa 117:2 i.e. his faithful promise. See Genesis 12:3. St. Paul applies the first words of it to this purpose, Rom 15:11 and some of the Jews themselves justify this application. REFLECTIONS.—This... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 117

PSALM 117 Psalms 117:1; Psalms 117:2. This may be regarded as a doxology, suitable to be appended to any Psalm of similar character, and prophetical of the prevalence of God's grace in the world, in which aspect Paul quotes it (Psalms 117:2- :; compare Psalms 47:2; Psalms 66:8). read more