Today’s Passage: Psalm 117
This is the shortest chapter in the entire Bible, only two verses, and yet its scope could hardly be wider: every nation, every people, called to praise the same God.
Context The smallest chapter with the biggest audience
At only two verses, this is the shortest chapter in the whole Bible, and it sits near the very middle of Scripture by chapter count. Its brevity is not a sign of small significance. What it lacks in length it makes up for in scope: no other psalm addresses its call to praise quite so directly and immediately to “all you nations… all you peoples,” without first spending any verses on Israel’s own specific story.
As you read, hold this: notice how little space this psalm needs to say something this large. Two verses, and the whole earth is called to praise.
Psalm 117:1-2 (BSB)
¹ Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol Him, all you peoples! ² For great is His loving devotion toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Hallelujah!
Word study Extol — shabach (Psalm 117:1)
“Extol” translates שָׁבַח (shabach, shah-VAKH) — Strong's H7623, to praise, commend, or glorify, a different Hebrew word than “praise” (halal, the root behind “hallelujah”) used earlier in the very same line. The psalm pairs two distinct words for praise in a single short verse, as though one word alone could not quite hold everything this call to worship is asking for.
Study notes Quoted to prove the Gentiles belong
This series already noted, back in Psalm 18, that Paul builds a short chain of Old Testament quotations in Romans 15:9-12 to prove that Gentiles were always meant to be included in God’s praise. This psalm’s opening line is the very next link in that same chain.
"And again: 'Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.'" Romans 15:11 (BSB)
Paul does not need to argue for this point at length. He simply quotes this psalm’s own two verses, already, in the Old Testament itself, addressed to every nation rather than to Israel alone, as evidence the door was always open.
Personal Application
- This entire psalm fits in two verses, yet its call reaches every nation on earth. Is there a truth about God you have been keeping short and private that actually deserves to be shared as widely as this psalm’s own call to praise?
- Verse 2 grounds its call to praise in two specific reasons, God’s loving devotion and His enduring faithfulness. Which of these two, His love or His faithfulness, do you most need to remember and praise Him for today?
Decision of the day: Speak this psalm’s own two verses aloud today, as a complete prayer of praise, and invite at least one other person to join you in it.
Pray to Close
The truth to carry from this psalm: God’s praise was never meant to stay small or private. It was always meant to reach every nation and every people, including you.
Praise: for the LORD whose loving devotion is great and whose faithfulness endures forever.
Confess: any tendency to keep your own praise of God small, private, or contained.
Ask: for the same wide, confident voice this psalm models, calling not just yourself but every nation to praise the LORD.
Worship for Today
Praise the Lord All Nations · Ron Kenoly
This song sets this exact psalm directly to music, letting its ancient two-verse call to worldwide praise become today’s own sung prayer.
Listen: