Psalms

Psalms 117: All nations praise the faithful LORD

Begin in prayer

Before this short song calls every people to praise, let us think of the nations and neighbours we seldom remember in prayer. Ask the Lord to bring us to Jesus and make His kindness known through the world.

Your eyes will see, and you will say, “Yahweh is great — even beyond the border of Israel!”

Malachi 1:5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the Lord's great loving kindness and lasting faithfulness deserve praise from every people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The song calls every nation to praise the Lord. All peoples are summoned to extol Him, giving honour to His name. The reason is His great loving kindness toward His people. His faithfulness endures forever, and the final words renew the call to praise.

As you read Psalms 117, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD deserves the praise of every people because His loving kindness is great and His faithfulness lasts forever.

The call reaches all nations and peoples, naming the Lord as worthy of their worship. His people sing of kindness they have received, giving the wider world a reason to honour Him. The greatness of that loving kindness means His care deserves an answer beyond the people already singing. His faithfulness lasts forever, so the truth behind their praise will remain when present nations have passed away. Romans 15 verse 11 quotes this call while explaining that Gentiles glorify God for the mercy shown through Christ. Praise therefore carries news of the faithful Lord whose kindness deserves to be known among every people.

How does Psalm 117 show us that the LORD deserves the praise of every people because His loving kindness is great and His faithfulness lasts forever?

God's great loving kindness deserves the praise of every nation.

The call names all nations and all peoples. They are summoned to praise the Lord whose loving kindness is great toward His people. Received mercy gives the singers a reason to call others into His praise.

God's everlasting faithfulness gives every generation a reason to praise Him.

The Lord's faithfulness endures forever. The command to praise therefore rests on a truth that will outlast the present singers. The final call sends their voices back to the faithful God Himself.

Memorise

For his loving kindness is great toward us. Yahweh’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise Yah!

Psalm 117:2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, whom am I forgetting when I pray for others to know the Lord Jesus?

The song calls, “Praise Yahweh, all you nations!” Great loving kindness and everlasting faithfulness give every people a reason to hear. The Lord whose mercy His people confess deserves praise beyond their own borders.

Our silence and prejudice reveal hearts that have withheld the honour God deserves. Jesus gave His life as a ransom for His people from every nation, enduring their condemnation to reconcile them to God. He rose from the dead. His finished obedience and sacrifice are enough for their forgiveness, with nothing left to add to the saving work He has accomplished.

Turn from your sin and trust the Lord Jesus. Whoever comes to Him in faith is forgiven. Pray for people whose language or home differs from yours, and ask God to make His mercy known to them. The faithful Lord unites believers from every people in enduring praise, teaching His redeemed people to welcome neighbours with patient kindness.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the Lord's great loving kindness and lasting faithfulness deserve praise from every people. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Praise God for His great kindness and everlasting faithfulness, and ask that every people would know His mercy. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.

John 17:23

Faithful Lord, Your loving kindness is great and Your truth will never fail. Please forgive our narrow prayers and bring us to Jesus for the mercy His finished work secures. Send the gospel among every nation and give people hearts that trust Your Son. Make our family ready to welcome neighbours, pray for distant peoples and thank You with Your worldwide church. Amen.