Psalms 117:1-2: a reflection

The shortest of all the psalms is a call to praise, addressed to all the nations, grounded in two things about God: Praise the LORD, all you nations! For his loving kindness is great toward us, and the LORD's faithfulness endures forever. All peoples are called to praise God, and the reason given is his great love and his enduring faithfulness. God's love is great toward his people, and his faithfulness lasts forever; and for these, all the nations are called to praise him.

Notice the two things named as the ground of praise: God's great love and his enduring faithfulness. The psalm calls all peoples to praise God, and grounds the call in these two: his loving kindness, great toward us, and his faithfulness, which endures forever. God's love is not small or grudging, but great; and his faithfulness does not fail or waver, but endures forever. These two, his great love and his lasting faithfulness, are reason enough for all the nations to praise him. God is to be praised for his great love and his unfailing faithfulness.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's great love and enduring faithfulness are indeed reason for our praise. We can go about without praising God, forgetting the greatness of his love and the constancy of his faithfulness; but the psalm reminds us that his love is great toward us and his faithfulness endures forever, reason enough for praise. Do not forget the greatness of God's love and the constancy of his faithfulness, going about without praise; let these move you to praise him, as the psalm calls all nations to do. Praise God for his great love toward you and his faithfulness that endures forever, letting the greatness of his love and the constancy of his faithfulness fill you with praise, as the shortest psalm calls all peoples to praise the LORD for his great loving kindness and his everlasting faithfulness; for these are reason enough for praise, and God is worthy of it.