38. The Great Invitation, Psalm 117

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Hymns: RHC 298 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, 65 And Can It Be That I Should Gain, 455 Go Ye unto All the World,

PSALM 117

 1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. 2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 117:1-2 (KJV)

 THE GREAT INVITATION

OUTLINE

(1) The Invitation to Praise (v1)

(2) The Intent for Praise (v2)

     (a) The LORD’s Great Love

      (b)The LORD’s Everlasting Faithfulness

 

INTRODUCTION

Psalm 117 is special because it is the shortest psalm. In fact, it is the shortest chapter in the Bible, consisting of only 2 verses.

Psalm 117 is special for its location. It is the mid-point of the Bible. More so, it is special because a written testimony of God’s people in relation to their experience with Him. We have not seen God nor touch Him but He is real, He exists, He manifests Himself in the life of His people by His Great Love and by His Everlasting Word.

This shortness gives punch to the message like chilli padi small yet hot! It is an invitation of a lifetime with no regrets but blessings with the living and true God.

 William MacDonald said well, “In this shortest chapter of the Bible, the Gentiles are called to praise the Lord … for His merciful kindness and enduring truth.”

 

(1) The Invitation to Praise (v1)

– O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

 This is a call to all people to acknowledge Israel’s LORD, to come before Him to praise Him. To come in thanksgiving and filial acknowledge that the LORD is God.

There is great jubilance to this praise to shout for joy that cannot be contained. It is a call to all nations to testify, to shine and bear witness of Him. To give the rightful tribute to the LORD for Who He is to them.

To acknowledge God for Who He is. To acknowledge that man is made in the image of God and He has an interest for a deep and meaningful relationship. It seemed quite contradictory here for the rebellion we see in the world. But it is a call to blessing.

This second word “praise” has that calming effect for the soul. When we acknowledge and have our sins forgiven, there is peace and joy, a great calmness in our soul that attests to this relationship, we praise!

 

(2) The Intent for Praise (v2)

(a) The LORD’s Great Love

– For his merciful kindness is great toward us.

The word “merciful kindness” is rich in meaning. It means kindness, loving-kindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, love, acts of kindness. This great love of God. How is it great? It is abundant, plenteous, inexhaustible and everlasting.

Psalm 31:19 “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”

Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Psalm 100:5 “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

It is praise borne out of experience. It is praise borne out of a time-tested experience. It is not only one day but day to day and day by day but every day’s experience. It began with that first day when we put our faith in God.

The love of God experienced must cause us to also show love to others. The love of God causes us to be benevolent.

 The people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. The whole from the king to all the rest of the people repented in sackcloth and ashes coming to God. They were a cruel people. Jonah thought them incorrigible. God saved them by His mercy.

William MacDonald observed well, “The Apostle Paul grasped its significance and quoted verse 1 in Romans 15:11 to show that the Gentile nations share with Israel in the mercy of the Messiah. He came not only to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs but also that “the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.”

Romans 15:8-12 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

 

(b) The LORD’s Enduring Faithfulness

– And the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.

 God is faithful to His promises is the thought for us. He changes not. And it has an enduring nature – Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

The word “truth” “emeth” speaks of the truthfulness or faithfulness of God to His covenant or promise or word. It has the following nuances (1) reliability and sureness (2) stability, continuance (3) faithfulness, reliableness as an attribute of God in Exodus 34:6 and Psalm 86:15. God is described as abundant, great, many. He does not change His mind and is fickle like men are.

He is the God of truth, truthfulness and faithfulness in that He does not lie – “it was impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18), “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13) and “God cannot lie” (Titus 1:2) against His revelation. Also, Truth is absolute! There is no negotiation with the truth.

Truth of Scripture is faithfulness, reliability, integrity, and consistency, all are the attributes of a person. We too are to be truthful and honest.

A direct application of this doctrine is the submission of every believer to the truth of God and to walk in it for their blessings. God’s will is God’s plan and purpose for His creation and for each individual and is revealed in His Word (Psalm 86:11).

 God’s plan for the salvation of mankind is through Israel’s Messiah Jesus Christ, all who repent of their sins and acknowledge Jesus’ atoning work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead three days later shall be saved.

 

CONCLUSION

May we realize the great privilege we have as God’s children and may we show forth all the good that we have received by our love and by our submission to His Word.