Psalm 117

I love the Christ hymn that is found in Philippians 2:6-11. The first three verses speak of Christ’s descent … coming to earth as the baby Jesus. The second three verses speak of Christ’s ascent … leaving earth and returning to heaven and the surety of His reign. Those three verses are:

Therefore, God also highly exalted him,
and gave him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend
in heaven, and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God, the Father.

The psalmist calls all the nations to praise the Lord. The psalmist bids all the people to extoll Him. Just why all the nations and the peoples are to do these things is found in the first three verses of the Christ hymn. Jesus Christ did not exploit His equality with God. He emptied Himself taking the form of a slave. He humbled Himself … being obedient even unto death, death on a cross. That explains Christ’s great (steadfast and faithful) love for us. Jesus loves us forever. And that is why, we are bidden to praise the Lord. What a day that will be when all nations and all peoples shall bow before our Savior and Lord and all together will praise the Lord, without any dissenting voice! Praise the Lord!

Prayer

O Lord, we do long for the day when every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that You are Lord. In the meantime, we offer our tribute of praise for we know that Your love is great and steadfast. Thank You, Lord. Amen.