An Exhortation to Praise God for His Goodness
D. Dickson. Psalm 117:1-2 O praise the LORD, all you nations: praise him, all you people.… 1. In God's worship it is not always necessary to be long; few words sometimes say what is sufficient, as this short psalm giveth us to understand. 2. The conversion of the Gentiles was foreseen and foretold long before the Jews were rejected, as this exhortation directed unto them, and prophesying of their praising God doth give evidence. 3. Invitation of any to the fellowship of God's worship, and in special unto praise and thanksgiving, is an invitation to them to renounce their sinful course, and to subject themselves unto God in Christ, and to embrace the offer of His grace, that so they may join with the Church in the song of praises. 4. Yea, this invitation to all the nations to praise God, set down in Scripture, is a prophecy which was to take effect in all the elect Gentiles in all nations, for so reasoneth the apostle (Romans 15:11) from this place. 5. Albeit there be matter of praise unto God in Himself, though we should not be partakers of any benefit from Him, yet the Lord doth give His people cause to praise Him for favours to them in their own particular. 6. There is no less reason to praise God for what He hath promised, than for what He hath given already. 7. As God's kindness and truth are the pillars of our salvation, so also are they the matter of our praise, which always go together, and run in the same channel toward the same persons, and do run abundantly and for ever together. 8. All they who hear of God are bound to praise God. (D. Dickson.) Parallel Verses KJV: O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. WEB: Praise Yahweh, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!