Difference between revisions of "Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 117."

Latest revision as of 20:11, 1 February 2011

Other Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150

This psalm is short and sweet; I doubt the reason why we sing it so often as we do is for the shortness of it; but, if we rightly understood and considered it, we should sing it oftener for the sweetness of it, especially to us sinners of the Gentiles, on whom it casts a very favourable eye.

Here is, I. A solemn call to all nations to praise God (Psa 117:1).

II. Proper matter for that praise suggested (Psa 117:2).

We are soon weary indeed of well-doing if, in singing this psalm, we keep not up those pious and devout affections with which the spiritual sacrifice of praise ought to be kindled and kept burning.

Psa 117:1-2

There is a great deal of gospel in this psalm. The apostle has furnished us with a key to it (Rom. 15:11), where he quotes it as a proof that the gospel was to be preached to, and would be entertained by, the Gentile nations, which yet was so great a stumbling-block to the Jews. Why should that offend them when it is said, and they themselves had often sung it, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and laud him, all you people. Some of the Jewish writers confess that this psalm refers to the kingdom of the Messiah; nay, one of them has a fancy that it consists of two verses to signify that in the days of the Messiah God should be glorified by two sorts of people, by the Jews, according to the law of Moses, and by the Gentiles, according to the seven precepts of the sons of Noah, which yet should make one church, as these two verses make one psalm. We have here,

I. The vast extent of the gospel church, Psa 117:1. For many ages in Judah only was God known and his name praised. The sons of Levi and the seed of Israel praised him, but the rest of the nations praised gods of wood and stone (Dan. 5:4), while there was no devotion at all paid, at least none openly, that we know of, to the living and true God. But here all nations are called to praise the Lord, which could not be applied to the Old-Testament times, both because this call was not then given to any of the Gentile nations, much less to all, in a language they understood, and because, unless the people of the land became Jews and were circumcised, they were not admitted to praise God with them. But the gospel of Christ is ordered to be preached to all nations, and by him the partition-wall is taken down, and those that were afar off are made nigh. This was the mystery which was hidden in prophecy for many ages, but was at length revealed in the accomplishment, That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, Eph. 3:3, 6.

Observe here, 1. Who should be admitted into the church? all nations and all people. The original words are the same that are used for the heathen that rage and the people that imagine against Christ (Ps. 2:1); those that had been enemies to his kingdom should become his willing subjects. The gospel of the kingdom was to be preached to all the world, for a witness to all nations, Mt. 24:14; Mk. 16:15. All nations shall be called, and to some of all nations the call shall be effectual, and they shall be discipled.

2. How their admission into the church is foretold? by a repeated call to praise him. The tidings of the gospel, being sent to all nations, should give them cause to praise God; the institution of gospel-ordinances would give them leave and opportunity to praise God; and the power of gospel-grace would give them hearts to praise him. Those are highly favoured whom God invites by his word and inclines by his Spirit to praise him, and so makes to be to him for a name and a praise, Jer. 13:11. See RePsa 117:7:9, 10.

II. The unsearchable riches of gospel-grace, which are to be the matter or our praise, Psa 117:2. In the gospel, those celebrated attributes of God, his mercy and his truth, shine most brightly in themselves and most comfortably to us; and the apostle, where he quotes this psalm, takes notice of these as the two great things for which the Gentiles should glorify God (Rom. 15:8, 9), for the truth of God and for his mercy. We that enjoy the gospel have reason to praise the Lord,

1. For the power of his mercy: His merciful kindness is great towards us; it is strong (so the word signifies); it is mighty for the pardon of mighty sins (Amos 5:12) and for the working out of a mighty salvation.

2. For the perpetuity of his truth: The truth of the Lord endures forever. It was mercy, mere mercy, to the Gentiles, that the gospel was sent among them. It was merciful kindness prevailing towards them above their deserts; and in it the truth of the Lord, of his promise made unto the fathers, endures for ever; for, though the Jews were hardened and expelled, yet the promise took its effect in the believing Gentiles, the spiritual seed of Abraham. God's mercy is the fountain of all our comforts and his truth the foundation of all our hopes, and therefore for both we must praise the Lord.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Other Chapters''' [[Book 19 - Psalms|'''1''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 2.|'''2''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 3.|'''3''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 4.|'''4''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 5.|'''5''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 6.|'''6''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 7.|'''7''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 8.|'''8''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 9.|'''9''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 10.|'''10''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 11.|'''11''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 12.|'''12''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 13.|'''13''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 14.|'''14''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 15.|'''15''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 16.|'''16''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 17.|'''17''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 18.|'''18''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 19.|'''19''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 20.|'''20''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 21.|'''21''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 22.|'''22''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 23.|'''23''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 24.|'''24''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 25.|'''25''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 26.|'''26''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 27.|'''27''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 28.|'''28''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 29.|'''29''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 30.|'''30''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 31.|'''31''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 32.|'''32''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 33.|'''33''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 34.|'''34''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 35.|'''35''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 36.|'''36''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 37.|'''37''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 38.|'''38''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 39.|'''39''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 40.|'''40''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 41.|'''41''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 42.|'''42''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 43.|'''43''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 44.|'''44''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 45.|'''45''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 46.|'''46''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 47.|'''47''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 48.|'''48''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 49.|'''49''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 50.|'''50''']], [[Book 10 - Psalms Chapter 51.|'''51''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 52.|'''52''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 53.|'''53''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 54.|'''54''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 55.|'''55''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 56.|'''56''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 57.|'''57''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 58.|'''58''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 59.|'''59''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 60.|'''60''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 61.|'''61''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 62.|'''62''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 63.|'''63''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 64.|'''64''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 65.|'''65''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 66.|'''66''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 67.|'''67''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 68.|'''68''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 69.|'''69''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 70.|'''70''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 71.|'''71''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 72.|'''72''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 73.|'''73''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 74.|'''74''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 75.|'''75''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 76.|'''76''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 77.|'''77''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 78.|'''78''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 79.|'''79''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 80.|'''80''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 81.|'''81''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 82.|'''82''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 83.|'''83''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 84.|'''84''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 85.|'''85''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 86.|'''86''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 87.|'''87''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 88.|'''88''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 89.|'''89''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 90.|'''90''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 91.|'''91''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 92.|'''92''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 93.|'''93''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 94.|'''94''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 95.|'''95''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 96.|'''96''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 97.|'''97''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 98.|'''98''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 99.|'''99''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 100.|'''100''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 101|'''101''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 102|'''102''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 103.|'''103''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 104.|'''104''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 105.|'''105''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 106.|'''106''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 107.|'''107''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 108.|'''108''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 109.|'''109''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 110.|'''110''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 111.|'''111''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 112.|'''112''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 113.|'''113''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 114.|'''114''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 115.|'''115''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 116.|'''116''']], '''117''', [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 118.|'''118''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 119.|'''119''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 220.|'''220''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 121.|'''121''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 122.|'''122''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 123.|'''123''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 124.|'''124''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 125.|'''125''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 126.|'''126''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 127.|'''127''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 128.|'''128''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 129.|'''129''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 130.|'''130''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 131.|'''131''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 132.|'''132''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 133.|'''133''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 134.|'''134''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 135.|'''135''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 136.|'''136''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 137.|'''137''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 138.|'''138''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 139.|'''139''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 140.|'''140''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 141.|'''141''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 142.|'''142''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 143.|'''143''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 144.|'''144''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 145.|'''145''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 146.|'''146''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 147.|'''147''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 148.|'''148''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 149.|'''149''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 150.|'''150''']]
+'''Other Chapters''' [[Book 19 - Psalms|'''1''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 2.|'''2''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 3.|'''3''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 4.|'''4''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 5.|'''5''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 6.|'''6''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 7.|'''7''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 8.|'''8''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 9.|'''9''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 10.|'''10''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 11.|'''11''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 12.|'''12''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 13.|'''13''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 14.|'''14''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 15.|'''15''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 16.|'''16''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 17.|'''17''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 18.|'''18''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 19.|'''19''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 20.|'''20''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 21.|'''21''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 22.|'''22''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 23.|'''23''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 24.|'''24''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 25.|'''25''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 26.|'''26''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 27.|'''27''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 28.|'''28''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 29.|'''29''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 30.|'''30''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 31.|'''31''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 32.|'''32''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 33.|'''33''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 34.|'''34''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 35.|'''35''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 36.|'''36''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 37.|'''37''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 38.|'''38''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 39.|'''39''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 40.|'''40''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 41.|'''41''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 42.|'''42''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 43.|'''43''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 44.|'''44''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 45.|'''45''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 46.|'''46''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 47.|'''47''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 48.|'''48''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 49.|'''49''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 50.|'''50''']], [[Book 10 - Psalms Chapter 51.|'''51''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 52.|'''52''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 53.|'''53''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 54.|'''54''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 55.|'''55''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 56.|'''56''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 57.|'''57''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 58.|'''58''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 59.|'''59''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 60.|'''60''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 61.|'''61''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 62.|'''62''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 63.|'''63''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 64.|'''64''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 65.|'''65''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 66.|'''66''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 67.|'''67''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 68.|'''68''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 69.|'''69''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 70.|'''70''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 71.|'''71''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 72.|'''72''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 73.|'''73''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 74.|'''74''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 75.|'''75''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 76.|'''76''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 77.|'''77''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 78.|'''78''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 79.|'''79''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 80.|'''80''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 81.|'''81''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 82.|'''82''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 83.|'''83''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 84.|'''84''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 85.|'''85''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 86.|'''86''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 87.|'''87''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 88.|'''88''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 89.|'''89''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 90.|'''90''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 91.|'''91''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 92.|'''92''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 93.|'''93''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 94.|'''94''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 95.|'''95''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 96.|'''96''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 97.|'''97''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 98.|'''98''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 99.|'''99''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 100.|'''100''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 101|'''101''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 102|'''102''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 103.|'''103''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 104.|'''104''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 105.|'''105''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 106.|'''106''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 107.|'''107''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 108.|'''108''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 109.|'''109''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 110.|'''110''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 111.|'''111''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 112.|'''112''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 113.|'''113''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 114.|'''114''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 115.|'''115''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 116.|'''116''']], '''117''', [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 118.|'''118''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 119.|'''119''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 120.|'''120''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 121.|'''121''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 122.|'''122''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 123.|'''123''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 124.|'''124''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 125.|'''125''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 126.|'''126''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 127.|'''127''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 128.|'''128''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 129.|'''129''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 130.|'''130''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 131.|'''131''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 132.|'''132''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 133.|'''133''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 134.|'''134''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 135.|'''135''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 136.|'''136''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 137.|'''137''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 138.|'''138''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 139.|'''139''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 140.|'''140''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 141.|'''141''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 142.|'''142''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 143.|'''143''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 144.|'''144''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 145.|'''145''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 146.|'''146''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 147.|'''147''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 148.|'''148''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 149.|'''149''']], [[Book 19 - Psalms Chapter 150.|'''150''']]
 ----
+This psalm is short and sweet; I doubt the reason why we sing it so often as we do is for the shortness of it; but, if we rightly understood and considered it, we should sing it oftener for the sweetness of it, especially to us sinners of the Gentiles, on whom it casts a very favourable eye.
+Here is, I. A solemn call to all nations to praise God (Psa 117:1).
+II. Proper matter for that praise suggested (Psa 117:2).
+We are soon weary indeed of well-doing if, in singing this psalm, we keep not up those pious and devout affections with which the spiritual sacrifice of praise ought to be kindled and kept burning.
+Psa 117:1-2
+There is a great deal of gospel in this psalm. The apostle has furnished us with a key to it (Rom. 15:11), where he quotes it as a proof that the gospel was to be preached to, and would be entertained by, the Gentile nations, which yet was so great a stumbling-block to the Jews. Why should that offend them when it is said, and they themselves had often sung it, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and laud him, all you people. Some of the Jewish writers confess that this psalm refers to the kingdom of the Messiah; nay, one of them has a fancy that it consists of two verses to signify that in the days of the Messiah God should be glorified by two sorts of people, by the Jews, according to the law of Moses, and by the Gentiles, according to the seven precepts of the sons of Noah, which yet should make one church, as these two verses make one psalm. We have here,
+I. The vast extent of the gospel church, Psa 117:1. For many ages in Judah only was God known and his name praised. The sons of Levi and the seed of Israel praised him, but the rest of the nations praised gods of wood and stone (Dan. 5:4), while there was no devotion at all paid, at least none openly, that we know of, to the living and true God. But here all nations are called to praise the Lord, which could not be applied to the Old-Testament times, both because this call was not then given to any of the Gentile nations, much less to all, in a language they understood, and because, unless the people of the land became Jews and were circumcised, they were not admitted to praise God with them. But the gospel of Christ is ordered to be preached to all nations, and by him the partition-wall is taken down, and those that were afar off are made nigh. This was the mystery which was hidden in prophecy for many ages, but was at length revealed in the accomplishment, That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, Eph. 3:3, 6.
+Observe here, 1. Who should be admitted into the church? all nations and all people. The original words are the same that are used for the heathen that rage and the people that imagine against Christ (Ps. 2:1); those that had been enemies to his kingdom should become his willing subjects. The gospel of the kingdom was to be preached to all the world, for a witness to all nations, Mt. 24:14; Mk. 16:15. All nations shall be called, and to some of all nations the call shall be effectual, and they shall be discipled.
+. How their admission into the church is foretold? by a repeated call to praise him. The tidings of the gospel, being sent to all nations, should give them cause to praise God; the institution of gospel-ordinances would give them leave and opportunity to praise God; and the power of gospel-grace would give them hearts to praise him. Those are highly favoured whom God invites by his word and inclines by his Spirit to praise him, and so makes to be to him for a name and a praise, Jer. 13:11. See RePsa 117:7:9, 10.
+II. The unsearchable riches of gospel-grace, which are to be the matter or our praise, Psa 117:2. In the gospel, those celebrated attributes of God, his mercy and his truth, shine most brightly in themselves and most comfortably to us; and the apostle, where he quotes this psalm, takes notice of these as the two great things for which the Gentiles should glorify God (Rom. 15:8, 9), for the truth of God and for his mercy. We that enjoy the gospel have reason to praise the Lord,
+. For the power of his mercy: His merciful kindness is great towards us; it is strong (so the word signifies); it is mighty for the pardon of mighty sins (Amos 5:12) and for the working out of a mighty salvation.
+. For the perpetuity of his truth: The truth of the Lord endures forever. It was mercy, mere mercy, to the Gentiles, that the gospel was sent among them. It was merciful kindness prevailing towards them above their deserts; and in it the truth of the Lord, of his promise made unto the fathers, endures for ever; for, though the Jews were hardened and expelled, yet the promise took its effect in the believing Gentiles, the spiritual seed of Abraham. God's mercy is the fountain of all our comforts and his truth the foundation of all our hopes, and therefore for both we must praise the Lord.