1 O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord.

Commentary

Verse 1

John Calvin Bible Commentary
Praise Jehovah, all ye nations.The Holy Spirit having, by the mouth of the prophet, exhorted all nations to celebrate the praises of God’s mercy and faithfulness, Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, very justly considers this as a prediction respecting the calling of the whole world, (Romans 15:11.) How can unbelievers be qualified for praising God, who, though not entirely destitute of his mercy, yet are insensible of it, and are ignorant of his truth? It would therefore serve no purpose for the prophet to address the heathen nations, unless they were to be gathered together in the unity of the faith with the children of Abraham. There is no ground for the censorious attempting, by their sophistical arguments, to refute the reasoning of Paul. I grant that the Holy Spirit elsewhere calls upon the mountains, rivers, trees, rain, winds, and thunder, to resound the praises of God, because all creation silently proclaims him to be its Maker. It is in a different manner that he is praised by his rational creatures. The reason assigned is, thatGod’s mercy and truthfurnish materials for celebrating his praises. Besides, the prophet does not mean that God shall be praised everywhere by the Gentiles, because the knowledge of his character is confined to a small portion of the land of Judea, but because it was to be spread over the whole world. First, he enjoins God to be praised,because his goodness is increased,orstrengthened,for the Hebrew term admits of both meanings. Secondly,because his truth remains steadfast for everHow, then, are those qualified to celebrate his praises, who, with brutal insensibility, pass over his goodness, and shut their ears against his heavenly doctrine?
McArther Bible Commentary
Gentiles! … peoples! Paul quoted this verse in Rom 15:11 to make the point that from the very beginning of time God has pursued a worldwide redemptive purpose (cf. Rom 15:7-13). Other passages quoted by Paul in Romans 15 to make this point include: Deu 32:43; 2Sa 22:50; Isa 11:10. While not as obvious in the OT, the NT makes this point unmistakably clear (cf. Act 10:34-35; Rom 1:16; 1Co 12:13; Gal 3:1-29; Col 3:11).
Bible Cross References
Romans 15:11 Psalm 66:4 Zechariah 8:20

Verse 2

John Calvin Bible Commentary
The truthof God, in this passage, is properly introduced as an attestation of his grace. For he can be true even when he menaces the whole world with perdition and ruin. The prophet, however, has placed hismercy first in order that his faithfulness and truth, comprising an assurance of his paternal kindness, might encourage the hearts of the godly. His power and justice are equally praiseworthy; but as men will never cordially praise God until they are drawn by a foretaste of his goodness, the prophet very justly selects God’s mercy and truth, which alone open the mouths of those who are mute to engage in this exercise. When his truth is said to beeverlasting, it is not set in opposition to his mercy, as if it, after flourishing for a season, then instantly passed away. The same reason would go to prove, that it was small compared with his mercy, which is said to be abundant. The meaning is, that God’s mercy is rich towards us, flowing in a perennial stream, because united to his eternal truth. If we read,his mercy is confirmed, all difficulty will be removed, for then both constancy and stability will alike adorn his mercy and his truth.
McArther Bible Commentary
The reasons for such exalted praise as that commanded in verse Psa 117:1 are: (1) because of God's redemptive kindness, and (2) because of God's eternal truth. Therefore, what God has promised, He will provide (cf. Joh 6:37-40).
Bible Cross References
Exodus 15:2 Psalm 100:5 Psalm 103:11 Psalm 146:6