Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

Psalm 117. This short hymn invites all nations to praise the Lord. The Lord's steadfast love and faithfulness (Ex. 34:6) is pledged to Israel but is intended for all the world; hence the Gentiles addressed are included in the word us. The calling of Israel was for the sake of the whole world (Gen. 12:2-3; Ex. 19:5-6; 1 Kings 8:41-43), and the OT constantly nurtures the hope that a day will come when the Gentiles will gladly join in worshiping the one true God (see note on Psalm 96). When Israel sang this in faith, they would recall both their privileged position (cf. 147:19-20) and their reason for existence. Paul quotes 117:1 in Rom. 15:11 as part of his argument (Rom. 15:8-13) for Jewish and Gentile Christians welcoming one another and worshiping together (Rom. 15:5-7): the long-awaited time has arrived.