3 Powerful Points

Did you know the shortest chapter in the Bible only has two verses? When I was growing up, I used to enjoy *“Sword Drills” in Sunday School. It was one way to motivate us to learn the books of the Bible. Psalms was easy to remember because it was a big book right in the middle.

Though it’s extremely short, Psalm 117 carries a powerful message. We are reminded of God’s love and faithfulness, along with two qualifiers.

God’s love is not only unfailing, but it is powerful. And the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. It shows up every morning as new mercies. No re-runs, no leftovers, and no scraping the bottom of the barrel. Just a consistent supply of mercy for each day, like the daily manna sent to the children of Israel on their Exodus from Egypt (Lamentations 3:22-23; Exodus 16:4-5).  

The third point is this: God’s love and faithfulness are to all nations and all the people of the earth (v. 1).

The Apostle Paul emphasized this in Romans by quoting from Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Isaiah to prove His point of Christ coming for both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 15:7-12). But the angelic message to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, and the gospel message in John also made it very clear that a Savior had been born to all people (Luke 2:8-11); John 3:16; Psalm 117:1).

So, the next time you can’t think of anything for which to give God praise, consider these three praise-worthy things: 1) God is for ALL people, 2) His love is unfailing and powerful, and 3) His faithfulness endures forever.

Psalm 119:89-90 brings it home this way: Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth and it endures.

If that’s not enough, consider the words of Asaph, one of King David’s temple musicians: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).

Let us also rejoice in our forever God!

*In Sword Drills, the teacher called the name of a book in the Bible, and the first person to find Chapter One got a point. The name was based on Ephesians 6:10-17 which lists the spiritual armor of God, including “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

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