This is the shortest psalm in the entire Book of Psalms. It is traditionally believed to have been sung each year during the Passover festival, commemorating the deliverance God granted to His people. When God brought Israel out of Egypt so they might worship Him wholeheartedly, there was also a prevailing understanding that He protected His own while overthrowing their enemies.
After crossing the Red Sea in triumph and witnessing Pharaoh’s army drowned in the waters, Miriam led the people in song: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea” (Exodus 15:20–21). That song emphasizes the destruction of their enemies more than the joy of their deliverance. Over the years, this theme seems to have continued in the Passover celebrations—praising God because He defeated their foes.
Yet this psalm shifts the focus. It invites all people to recognize and worship God, revealing Him not merely as the defender of one nation, but as the God of all.
LORD of All People
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples. – Psalm 117:1 (NIV)
Generally, when individuals celebrate their triumph and the defeat of adversaries, this Psalm encompasses all under the governance of the LORD and instructs everyone, regardless of religious affiliations, to extol God, for He alone is deserving of such praise. Rather than perceiving our fellow human beings as adversaries, we ought to recognize the true enemy of us, which is the devil. In His boundless agape love, God has forgiven us all our transgressions, having nullified the debt of our legal obligations that stood against us and condemned us; He has removed it, nailing it to the cross. Furthermore, having disarmed the powers and authorities, He publicly made a spectacle of them, triumphing over them through the cross (Colossians 2:13-15). Regrettably, the god of this age has blinded the eyes of individuals, preventing them from appreciating the magnitude of God’s actions and failing to identify the true enemy, as the devil has deceived them into considering their fellow citizens as foes.
God’s Faithfulness Endures Forever
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD. – Psalm 117:2 (NIV)
God does not guarantee a life devoid of challenges; rather, He assures us that His unfailing love for us remains steadfast and His covenant of peace will not be rescinded (Isaiah 54:10). Despite this true promise, the adversary obscures the vision of believers, leading them to perceive that God has withdrawn His peace and is poised to avenge their transgressions. In His infinite love, God inflicted punishment upon His Son on our behalf, thereby upholding His promise of unwavering love towards us. Nevertheless, many individuals fall prey to the deceptions of the enemy, thereby rejecting the fundamental truths about God and subsequently placing themselves in anguish.
As this Psalm was recited during the Passover festival, the people should have recognized that it was not their act of applying the blood of a calf to the doorposts of their houses that delivered them from the hands of Pharaoh, but rather the pure grace of God. Yet, later, the people crafted an image of a calf, erroneously placing their faith in the provisions God had graciously provided, rather than in God Himself. Similarly, we often place undue emphasis on the resources bestowed by God rather than fully trusting in Him. This concise Psalm reveals the truth of God’s saving grace—that salvation is not achieved through our deeds, but is a result of His grace and the faith He has instilled within us to recognize and believe in His gracious actions. This Psalm concludes by meaningfully praising the LORD, certainly not in vain.
It is important to note that the phrase “Praise the LORD” has largely been reduced to a casual greeting, akin to “good morning,” thereby diminishing its significance. We should refrain from using this expression as a mere salutation; instead, it ought to be employed as an act of worship directed towards God, emanating from the depths of our hearts, while recognizing the grace that He has bestowed upon us.
O God, grant us the ability to comprehend Your love and grace, that we may achieve peace while navigating this world filled with illusions and confusions. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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