Psalm 117 - Separated But Not Isolated

1 Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!

Psalm 117 has the unique distinction of being the shortest chapter in the Bible along with being consider by many as the middle chapter of the Bible. Actually, because there are an even number of chapters in the Bible, Psalm 118 is also a “middle chapter”.  Remember we said earlier that Psalms 113 to 118 are the “Hallel” Psalms, all written by anonymous psalmists probably after the return of the remnant from the Babylonian captivity. They were to be used as part of the Passover celebration being sung or read before and after the Passover meal.

Psalm 117 is considered a Messianic Psalm. It is quoted by Paul in the New Testament in connection with the work of Christ. It includes a Passover invitation from Israel to the Gentiles, to come and join them in their Passover. We should hasten to join them, but only we will join them on the ground not of a foretelling Passover but of a fulfilled Passover.

Psalm 117 could also be considered a Millennial Psalm. It looks forward to the day when Jesus will reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem and when Israel will be regathered to the promised land, dwelling in peace and security as head of the nations, and they will invite all peoples to come to Jerusalem and join in their annual feasts of thanksgiving.

Finally Psalm 117 is a Missionary Psalm. Israel belongs to the nations. It was never God's plan that the Hebrew people should exclusively and selfishly keep their blessings to themselves. Even in their punishment and dispersal among the nations, they are a universal reminder to all that God is sovereign in human affairs: That Jewish dispersal gave wings to the gospel.

The Jews had already spread the concept of the one true God to all nations by the time of Christ. In their law and through their prophets, the world saw evidence of their access to higher truth. When the gospel evangelists went from city to city they always made straight for the synagogue. It was the God-fearers among the Gentiles, attracted by what they heard, who first embraced the gospel among the nations.

The "Gentiles," are all people who are not of Semitic origin. The Hebrew word translated "peoples" refers to the diverse nationalities in the world (Rev. 7:9). You find the phrases "all the earth" and "all peoples" frequently in the book of Psalms (47:1; 66:1; 96:1; 98:4, 7; 100:1). The Jewish people were supposed to be separated from the Gentiles but not isolated from them, for God called Abraham to found a nation that would bring blessing to all the earth (Gen. 12:1-3; Rom. 4:17-18; Gal. 3:8). However, Israel failed and became guilty of imitating the Gentiles instead of illuminating the Gentiles with the light of God's truth (Isa. 42:6; 49:6). Jesus said, "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22; Luke 2:32), for God chose the Jewish people to give the world the knowledge of the true God, the Scriptures, and the Savior.

The church today needs to carry the light of the Gospel to the whole world (Acts 13:47). Paul quoted this verse in Romans 15:11 as part of his explanation of the relationship of the church to Israel. The apostles and other early Jewish Christians praised the Lord among both Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 15:9) as recorded in the book of Acts. Through this expanding witness, many Gentiles trusted Christ and praised God with the Jewish believers (Rom. 15:10), for believing Jews and Gentiles were one body in Christ (Eph. 2:11-22).

If we are a worshiping people, praising the Lord, then we will be a witnessing people, telling others how wonderful He is. Like the lepers outside the gates of Samaria, believers today must confess, "We are not doing right. This is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent" (2 Kings 7:9). May we imitate the apostles who said, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).

God bless!