Why is it important for "all nations" to praise God? Key Verse – Psalm 117:1 “Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol Him, all you peoples!” God’s Universal Worthiness • The LORD is Creator of every nation (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:26). • Because He “owns the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10), no corner of the earth lies outside His rightful praise. • Revelation 4:11 declares, “For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and came to be.” If everything came from Him, everything should return praise to Him. Fulfillment of God’s Redemptive Plan • From the moment God told Abraham, “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3), His plan was global. • Isaiah 49:6 previews a Messiah who would be “a light for the nations.” • Jesus confirms this trajectory in the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). • When all nations praise God, the original promise to bless every ethnic group is visibly fulfilled. A Witness to God’s Mercy and Truth • Psalm 117:2 continues, “For great is His loving devotion toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.” • His mercy (ḥeseḏ) and truth (’ĕmeṯ) are not abstract; they are demonstrated in the cross and empty tomb (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). • As diverse tongues confess this mercy, the world sees incontrovertible evidence that the gospel transcends culture. Anticipation of the Coming Kingdom • Revelation 7:9 pictures a “multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language” standing before the throne. • Current praise prepares hearts for that future reality; the church now echoes the worship that will fill eternity. • Every new language added to the choir is a foretaste of the final chorus. Unity in Diversity • Ephesians 2:14-18 explains that Christ “has made both one,” demolishing the wall between Jew and Gentile. • When Koreans, Kenyans, Canadians, and Chileans sing the same gospel, divisions crumble and gospel unity shines. • Such unity answers Jesus’ prayer “that they may all be one … so that the world may believe” (John 17:21). Strength for the Mission • Corporate, global praise fuels obedience. Paul and Silas praised in prison, and doors opened (Acts 16:25-26). • Hearing believers on another continent worship the same Savior emboldens faith and perseverance (Philippians 1:3-6). • Shared praise enlarges vision, reminding the church that no field is too remote for harvest (Luke 10:2). Invitation to Participate • Psalm 96:3 urges, “Declare His glory among the nations.” • Every believer plays a role—through worship, witness, giving, going—so that “from the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD” is praised (Malachi 1:11). |
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