The occasion and the author of this psalm are alike unknown. Some commentaries believe it was a temple psalm. In many manuscripts and in several editions of the Scriptures, this psalm seems to have no independent character or meaning of its own, and seems to have been designed, like the “Doxologies” in our Books of Psalms and Hymns, to be attached to other psalms as occasion might require. There is no psalm designed for public worship to which it might not thus properly be attached. This may be 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 Romans 15:11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all the nations, and praise Him, all the peoples."
This is the shortest Psalm in the whole collection. It celebrates the redemption from the Babylonish captivity, the grand type of the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus.
This psalm consists of
I. A solemn call to all nations to praise God (Psa_117:1).
II. Proper matter for that praise suggested (Psa_117:2).
Psa 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
O praise the Lord, all ye nations - 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. This doctrine, however, was not fully made known until the coming of the Redeemer. The announcement of this was made by the Redeemer himself.
Matthew
Matthew
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
It was the occasion of no small part of the trouble which Paul had with his countrymen. It was one of the doctrines which Paul especially endeavored to establish, as a great truth of Christianity, that all the barriers between the nations were to be broken down, and the Gospel proclaimed to all people alike.
Romans
Romans
Romans
Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation. And I put before them the gospel which I proclaim in the nations, but privately to those seeming to be pillars, lest I run, or I ran, into vanity.
(See also Rom_11:11; Rom_15:9-11, Rom_15:16, Rom_15:18; Eph_2:11-18 Eph_3:1-9.)
O praise the Lord, all ye nations - Let all the Gentiles praise him, for he provides for their eternal salvation. The Lord having chosen, and Christ having redeemed, some out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation; and the Gospel being sent and preached to all nations, and some of each being called and converted by the Spirit of God.
Praise him, all ye people - All ye Jews, praise him; for ye have long been his peculiar people. And while he sends his Son to be a light to the Gentiles, he sends him also to be the glory of his people
Interestingly, a different word is here used for "praise" in the two parts of this verse. hālal for the first part, shâbach for the second part.
H1984
hālal: A verb meaning to praise, to commend, to boast, to shine. The root meaning may be to shine but could also be to shout. The word most often means praise and is associated with the ministry of the Levites who praised God morning and evening (1Ch_23:30). All creation, however, is urged to join in (Ps. 148), and various instruments were used to increase the praise to God (Ps. 150). The word hallelujah is a command to praise Yah (the Lord), derived from the word hālal (Psa_105:45; Psa_146:1). The Aleph Tev is next to this word.
H7623
shâbach
A primitive root; properly to address in a loud tone, that is, (specifically) loud; figuratively to pacify (as if by words): - commend, glory, keep in, praise, still, triumph.A verb meaning to soothe, to stroke, to praise. The primary meaning of this word is to calm or still. It was used particularly in reference to the calming of the sea (Psa_65:7 [8]). A secondary current of meaning associated with this word is that of praise. In this sense, it was employed to denote either the exaltation of God (Psa_63:3 [4]); or the holding of something in higher esteem (Ecc_4:2).
Psa 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
And the truth of the Lord endureth for ever - All that God has said: his declarations; his promises; his assurances of mercy. Whatsoever he has promised, that he will most infallibly fulfill.
Here is a solemn call to all nations to praise the Lord, and proper matter for that praise is suggested. We are soon weary of well-doing, if we do not keep up the pious and devout affections with which the spiritual sacrifice of praise ought to be kindled and kept burning.
The word praise in this verse is the same as the first praise in the first verse.
