Psalm 117 (116):2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He states that God's mercy towards us is unwavering, solid as rock, and indeed, it continues to grow stronger each day. The enduring nature of the Lord's truth is emphasized, particularly as it is revealed in fullness. This assertion is made in light of the old covenant, which served merely as a reflection and a foreshadowing. The evangelist captures this distinction when he notes that the law was delivered through Moses, yet grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all peoples (Psalm 115:1). These are the courts of the Lord's dwelling, they comprise His entire assembly, representing the true Jerusalem. Those who have chosen not to be part of this city should take heed, for they have distanced themselves from the communion of all peoples. His lovingkindness continues to abound toward us, and the truth of the Lord remains eternal (Psalm 116:2). These are the two aspects—lovingkindness and truth—that I encouraged you to remember in Psalm 115. The Lord's gracious kindness is increasingly revealed to us, as the vehement voices of opposing nations have yielded to His Name, through which we have received salvation. The truth of the Lord lasts forever, including His promises to the righteous and His warnings to the wicked.

Praise the Lord, all nations. The nations, as it is stated, would not have known such transformation if God's compassion had not triumphed over our transgressions. The faithfulness of the Lord lasts forever. For He has bestowed the salvation He pledged through His holy prophets. The Apostle Paul initiates his letter to the Romans with the declaration: ‘Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, set apart to announce the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the sacred scriptures’ (Romans 1:1-2). He further asserts, ‘I declare.... The ministers of Christ Jesus were of the Jewish lineage, as true to God’s promises, to affirm the covenants made with the patriarchs, while the message is by grace, to exalt God’ (Rom. 15:8-9).

His mercy is firmly established among us, for through His grace alone He has secured our salvation. The Apostle Paul also articulated this when he noted that the grace and compassion of our Savior God manifested not through our own righteous deeds but in accordance with His immense mercy, saving us through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which He generously poured out upon us (Titus 3:4-6). He further stated, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). Additionally, he emphasizes, faithful is the word, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief, but received mercy (1 Tim. 1:15-16).

For His compassion is firmly established upon us, and the faithfulness of the Lord lasts forever. The Lord's compassion, as stated, has grown strong and solidified, being abundantly poured out upon all humanity, according to His great love, even though some have rejected it and chosen not to embrace it. David acknowledges himself among those who have received God's mercy, as reflected in various psalms, identifying himself with the believers of the nations and those who have faith in Christ. The faithfulness of the Lord, enduring eternally, embodies the truth of the Gospel, which Christ imparted to the Apostles; for the Law was merely a shadow of the truth found in the Gospel, as Chrysostom points out.

He provides an explanation for why both Gentiles and Jews ought to exalt God, illustrating that the compassion of the Lord has been clearly manifested to both groups. Moreover, not only has mercy been revealed, but the fulfillment of divine promises has been entirely accomplished, and this truth shall remain unaltered for eternity. The Church, which is formed from both Gentiles and Jews, is established in such a way that even the gates of Hades cannot conquer it (Matthew 18:18). It is important to clarify that the earlier Apostolic statements regarding the Gentiles glorifying God through grace, and the Jews through His truth, do not imply that grace does not extend to the Jews; rather, it signifies that while the Gentiles experience grace alone, the Jews receive both grace and truth.

In this psalm, similarly to others (see Ps. 95:7, 97:4), the non-Israelite nations are urged by the Israelites to acknowledge the one true God and to glorify Him for His compassion and faithfulness to His promises, which He has consistently extended to His people. This psalm may have been inspired by a remarkable display of God's mercy towards His people—possibly a significant victory or, according to some interpretations, a deliverance from oppression. In light of such a revelation of God's majesty, it follows that the Gentiles should also be stirred to exalt the Lord in Zion. It is apparent that the psalmist envisioned a future when the Gentiles would turn towards God, making the reference made by Paul in Romans 15:11 particularly fitting.

The prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, beholds the transformation of the heart and invites all humanity to offer heartfelt praise and gratitude to God for His unparalleled love towards mankind. This love is manifested through the trials and tribulations they endure, evidenced by the mission of His only begotten Son, Christ the Lord, who liberates from demonic influences and all forms of evil, guiding everyone toward righteousness and eternal life. All nations that place their faith in Christ the Lord are called to express their thankfulness to their Savior. The compassion of Christ the Lord rests upon humankind, for their redemption is secured by His precious blood, a truth that remains forever immutable. The Apostle Paul declares, "By grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8).