Psalm 117:1
Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol Him, all you peoples!
Praise the LORD, all you nations!

Israel’s God summons every nation to worship Him. Though the LORD uniquely revealed Himself through Israel and established His covenant with Abraham, His purpose always included the blessing of all families of the earth through Abraham’s promised Seed, Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:16). Israel’s place among surrounding empires testified that the God of Israel alone rules every people and king. Paul cites this call in Romans 15:11 as evidence that Gentile inclusion in the salvation of Christ fulfills Scripture. The command anticipates the Great Commission and the future multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before God’s throne (Matthew 28:19; Revelation 7:9).

Rom 15:11 Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him,…
Psa 67:3-5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples…
Psa 86:9 All the nations You have made will come and bow before You…

Extol Him, all you peoples!

Every ethnic group is invited to render joyful, public honor to the LORD. Worship belongs to Him not because all cultures are identical, but because all humanity shares one Creator, stands under His righteous rule, and may receive mercy through His Son. The repeated summons strengthens the universal scope of God’s redemptive purpose: the nations are not merely observers of Israel’s God but are called to join His redeemed people in praise. The day will come when every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10–11).

Psa 148:11-13 kings of the earth and all peoples, princes…
Psa 96:3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders…
Rev 7:9-10 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His promises.

2. Nations (Hebrew: ???????, goyim)
Refers to all ethnic groups and peoples outside of Israel, highlighting the universal call to worship God.

3. Peoples (Hebrew: ???????, amim)
A term that can refer to groups within nations, emphasizing the inclusivity of God's call to worship.
Teaching Points
Universal Call to Worship
God's invitation to worship is extended to all nations and peoples, reflecting His desire for a global community of worshipers.

Unity in Diversity
The call for all nations and peoples to praise God highlights the unity that can be found in diversity when centered on worshiping the one true God.

Mission and Evangelism
This verse underscores the importance of sharing the Gospel with all nations, as God's praise is meant to be declared universally.

God's Sovereignty and Worthiness
The command to praise and extol God is rooted in His sovereignty and worthiness, reminding us of His supreme authority and goodness.

Joyful Obedience
Praising God is not just a duty but a joyful response to His love and faithfulness, encouraging believers to cultivate a heart of gratitude.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Psalm 117:1 challenge our understanding of who is called to worship God?

2. In what ways can we participate in the global mission to invite all nations to praise the LORD?

3. How does the inclusion of all peoples in worship reflect God's character and His plan for humanity?

4. What practical steps can we take to foster unity among diverse groups within our own communities in light of this verse?

5. How can we cultivate a lifestyle of joyful obedience and praise in our daily lives, as encouraged by Psalm 117:1?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 15:11
Paul quotes Psalm 117:1 to emphasize the inclusion of Gentiles in the worship of God, showing the fulfillment of God's plan for all nations.

Revelation 7:9
This vision of a multitude from every nation worshiping God connects to the universal call in Psalm 117:1.

Isaiah 56:7
God's house is described as a house of prayer for all nations, aligning with the call for all peoples to praise Him.
God in National LifeR. Tuck Psalm 117:1
An Exhortation to Praise God for His GoodnessD. Dickson.Psalm 117:1-2
The DoxologyS. Conway Psalm 117:1, 2
Universal Adaptability of ChristianityA. Maclaren, D.D.Psalm 117:1-2
Worship the Duty of All PeoplesD. Thomas, D.D.Psalm 117:1-2
People
Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Extol, Glorify, Laud, Nations, O, Peoples, Praise
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 117:1

     7927   hymn
     7960   singing

Psalm 117:1-2

     8624   worship, reasons
     8660   magnifying God

Library
Exhortation to Universal Praise and Thanksgiving. --Ps. cxvii.
Exhortation to universal Praise and Thanksgiving.--Ps. cxvii. All ye gentiles, praise the Lord, All ye lands, your voices raise; Heaven and earth, with loud accord, Praise the Lord, for ever praise. For His truth and mercy stand, Past, and present, and to be, Like the years of His right hand, Like His own eternity. Praise Him, ye who know his love, Praise Him from the depths beneath, Praise Him in the heights above; Praise your Maker all that breathe.
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

from all that Dwell Below the Skies
[966]Old Hundredth: Louis Bourgeois, 1551 Doxology Psalm 117 Isaac Watts, 1719; Doxology, Thomas Ken, 1692 From all that dwell below the skies Let the Creator's praise arise! Let the Redeemer's Name be sung Through every land, by every tongue! Eternal are thy mercies, Lord, And truth eternal is thy word: Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore Till suns shall rise and set no more. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow! Praise him, all creatures here below! Praise him above, ye heavenly host!
Various—The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA

Epistle vii. To Peter, Domitian, and Elpidius.
To Peter, Domitian, and Elpidius. Gregory to Peter, Domitian, and Elpidius, Bishops [1688] . I rejoice exceedingly that you welcomed with great joy the ordination of the most holy Cyriacus, my brother and fellow-priest. And since we have learnt from the preaching of Paul the apostle that If one member rejoice, all the members rejoice with it (1 Cor. xii. 26), you must needs consider with how great exultation I rejoice with you in this thing, wherein not one member, but many members of Christ have
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Of Meditation Upon the Hidden Judgments of God, that we May not be Lifted up Because of Our Well-Doing
Thou sendest forth Thy judgments against me, O Lord, and shakest all my bones with fear and trembling, and my soul trembleth exceedingly. I stand astonished, and remember that the heavens are not clean in thy sight.(1) If Thou chargest Thine angels with folly, and didst spare them not, how shall it be unto me? Stars have fallen from heaven, and what shall I dare who am but dust? They whose works seemed to be praiseworthy, fell into the lowest depths, and they who did eat Angels' food, them have
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Sermon on the Mount Continued Its Woes in Strict Agreement with the Creator's Disposition. Many Quotations Out of the Old Testament in Proof of This.
"In the like manner," says He, [3982] "did their fathers unto the prophets." What a turncoat [3983] is Marcion's Christ! Now the destroyer, now the advocate of the prophets! He destroyed them as their rival, by converting their disciples; he took up their cause as their friend, by stigmatizing [3984] their persecutors. But, [3985] in as far as the defence of the prophets could not be consistent in the Christ of Marcion, who came to destroy them; in so far is it becoming to the Creator's Christ that
Tertullian—The Five Books Against Marcion

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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