Psalm 117 is a 2 verse song of Praise. This chapter starts with a demand “Praise the Lord, all you nations” is simple and yet so powerful. Although this verse is looked at historically as a teaching for Gentiles, I think this teaching is a good reminder for believers, and as devoted Christians we should take this teaching even more to heart.
God is an all powerful being who needs nothing and demands way too little of us than what He should (He SHOULD demand perfection). Yet he sent His son, a part of him which was to be humiliated, spat on, beaten, and ultimately killed so that we can have a chance to know him face to face and to live in love with Him forever. Does that not deserve the utmost praise and thanksgiving? Does that not warrant every second of our lives given to praise the One and only God, who again should want nothing from us but instead wants a relationship so intense it changes everything? “Extol him, all you peoples” is simply an understatement because we have hope, love, and mercy when all we should have is hopelessness and meaninglessness.
Since God is the reason for our existence, what is meaning without Him? Therefore, why should we Praise or Worship meaningless things like money, other people, or anything else that is worldly and will therefore end?
Continuing on, I feel as if us Christians have put Praise into a box. Google tells me the definition of Praise is to “express warm approval or admiration of.” Now call me young and dumb if you want, but I feel as if the church has put Praise into 3 categories we have subconsciously created that we must abide by or else somehow it’s not Praise. These are prayer, praying, and worshiping (singing, etc.). Now, I’m not saying these are bad things and these are certainly great ways to show thankfulness for all God has done for us, but these are simply parts of Praise not rules of Praise. Praise can be as simple as admiring nature in your front yard, showing a neighbor love or kindness, or Praise can be as simple as being thankful, and realizing all the many riches and blessings God has granted us as Americans with wifi and Uber Eats. So find your own way to Praise God, and Praise the Lord of all, the King of kings, with joy and exaltation.
Psalm 117
1 Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.
2 For his unfailing love for us is powerful;
the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.
Praise the Lord!