Psalms 113-118, are often referred to as the Hallel psalms, these were sung on festive occasions, such as at Pentecost, the feast of Tabernacles, and the feast of Dedication. These were psalms of adoration to the Lord which commemorated Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
Psalms 113-114, were sung before the meal and Psalm 115-118, were sung after the meal. This was probably the hymn which our Saviour and His disciples sang at the conclusion of the Passover supper, Matthew 26:30 / Mark 14:26.
Despite being the shortest psalm within the books of psalms, it is Messianic in nature, Romans 15:11.
The NIV doesn’t offer a heading for this psalm, but the KJV does. Although the headings aren’t inspired by God, they are important because they give us some understanding of the Psalm and they help us to see why it was written. The headings usually tell us four things.
1. Who wrote them, probably wrote them, or possibly wrote them.
2. Information about the historical background to the Psalm. Why it was written.
3. They tell us of the tune the Psalm was written to.
4. How it was used.
The heading tells us this psalm was written to praise God for His mercy and truth.
The psalmist begins by encouraging all the nations to praise the LORD, and they encourage all the people to extol the LORD, Psalm 117:1 / Genesis 12:3. The nations and the people refer to all the Gentiles and the psalmist is telling us that God isn’t just the God of Israel but of everyone, from everywhere, therefore, He is worthy of being praised, Romans 15:11.
The reason all the nations should praise God is because of His love towards all the nations, all the people, Psalm 117:2. In other words, God is great in His steadfast love toward us, John 10:16 / Ephesians 2:14. The reason all the nations should praise God is because His faithfulness endures forever, Psalm 117:2 / John 1:17.
His faithfulness is sure and steadfast throughout all time, Romans 5:20 / 1 Timothy 1:14. With these great thoughts, the psalmist ends by encouraging all the nations and all the people to ‘praise the LORD’, Psalm 117:2, that is, the word, Hallelujah.
The psalmist tells us that God wasn’t only the God of Israel but also the God of all nations and they were encouraged to praise Him. In Romans 15:9, we get the first mention of the Gentiles and in this chapter, Paul uses the word ten times. Remember that the Roman church was very cosmopolitan, there was a mixture of Jews and Gentiles who all had their own cultures and religious baggage.
Remember the Gentiles were seen as unclean, and dirty, even using the word Gentile was classed as a dirty word. And so now here in Rome, we have the Jewish Christians worshipping with the Jewish Christians.
Those great promises God made to the Jewish fathers also included the Gentiles. Mercy to the Gentiles, that is, salvation, repentance to life, was an integral part of the promises made to the fathers and fulfilled in Christ, Acts 11:18.
Paul quotes several passages which show that the Gentiles were to be included in the Gospel system. ‘For this reason, I will praise you among the Gentiles,’ are quotes from 2 Samuel 22:50, and Psalm 18:49. Paul quotes David who represents himself as confessing and singing to God among the Gentiles. Romans 15:10-11, are quotes from Deuteronomy 32:43, and Psalm 117:1.
In Romans 15:10, the Gentiles are represented as being glad among the Jews. And so, the Gentiles were to rejoice and praise God along with the Jews. In Romans 15:11, the Gentiles were to praise the Lord, the one true God, along with all other peoples. And so, the design of these verses are the same, to establish mutual acceptance of each other.
Romans 15:12, are quotes from Isaiah 11:1 / Isaiah 11:6-10, and so again, the Old Testament Scriptures clearly showed that the Gentiles were to have a part in the gospel system. And so, quotations from the law, prophets, and the Psalms establish that God had promised salvation to the Gentiles along with the Jews. In the Messiah, the root of Jesse, the Gentiles would also submit and have hope.