There are two readings for today.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 117
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. [Psalm 117:1-2]
Why does this Jewish psalm-writer tell the people of other nations to praise the Lord?
Why would the people who worship other gods extol the God of Israel?
His answer is because God’s great love and faithfulness of Israel is such that it is praiseworthy, even by outsiders.
Even non-Jews will marvel that God could love that people so much.
As the saying goes, ‘how odd of God to choose the Jews’.
A small, insignificant and obstinate nation, not much to consider on the world stage.
Yet this is what makes God’s love and faithfulness so amazing.

Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” [Luke 2:29-32]
These words by Simeon are expressed after he sees the baby Jesus; he notes that God prepared His salvation in the sight of all nations.
In other words, God is not just doing something local, He is doing something global.
Everyone is invited to see God’s mercy in action.
And everyone is invited to praise the Lord because of His love and faithfulness.
A light to the Gentiles, glory for the people of Israel.
The message of Jesus is a universal message, one that speaks to the condition and need of all people.
And people all over the world are responding to this message, they are praising God for His love and faithfulness to them.
In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. [Colossians 1:6]

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. [Matthew 24:14]
This gospel (good news) of the kingdom (God’s rule over all creation, all nations) is being proclaimed to all nations, they get to see and hear it.
Today the psalmist is inviting us to join in the song of praise… will you?

PRAYER:
Lord, Your love is amazing. Your faithfulness to a stubborn, obstinate soul like me is unbelievable. May everyone see it, appreciate it, and respond to You in praise!