Holston Daily Devotional November 25, 2020

Focus Scripture

Psalm 117 NIV

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
2 For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord.[a]

Devotion

This is the shortest psalm and the shortest chapter in the Bible. It is interesting that it is also the middle chapter of the whole Bible. The author is anonymous as with all the Hallelujah Psalms, but Paul the Apostle quotes from the first verse in Romans 15:11 to show that God's salvation is for all people. The chapter begins and ends with the same three words.... Praise the Lord. The answer as to why are the 23 words in between. There are basically two reasons. We praise Him for His great love toward us and for His faithfulness that lasts forever. Why is this so important? It is really just about all we need to know.

While this Psalm holds the distinction of being the shortest of all the Psalms, it is living proof that it does not take a lot of words to say what needs to be said. This might be a good lesson for all of us who make public talks and lead public prayers!

The point of this Psalm is straightforward. Praise the Lord, no matter who you are. God alone deserves the praise and honor of all creatures. This Psalm sums up the call and global appeal of the entire Bible. Consider this opening sentence: ”Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.” This call to worship is for all people; it’s universal. The message of the Bible is for all people. It’s not limited to a single nation, race or people group. This call is for everyone’s praise.

With Thanksgiving Day being tomorrow, we should freely give praise and have the spirit of giving thanks. Although we have been so challenged this year with the pandemic, political strife, racial issues, and economic hardships, we have so much to be grateful for. Give praise for your blessings this day and every day.

Prayer

God, thank you for your love that is beyond our ability to understand. Thank you for your forgiveness, even though we know we do not deserve it. Help us keep our hearts open with your Spirit so we can love others around us as you love us. Help us be kind, compassionate and forgiving. Use us to reach others with your gospel and to help those who are struggling to live for you. Amen.