The God of all Nations (Part 1)

Even in the Old Testament, we see foretastes of the Gospel truth.  The God of the Bible is the God for all people.

September 21, 2018

"O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.  For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.  Praise ye the LORD."

Psalm 117:1-2

In this short but significant psalm, we can understand much about praise to Jehovah and who He expects to praise Him.  In verse 1, we can see a rare Old Testament glimpse at what is clearly revealed in the New Testament.

“O praise the LORD, all ye nations:”
Praise to Jehovah should be the norm for the Children of Israel.  But did you know that even in Old Testament times God’s expectation of praise was to be from “all nations?”  Yes, the Gentiles are the “all nations.”  The Gentiles are expected to worship Jehovah too.  It doesn’t surprise us to think of God as being the “God of Israel.”  But clearly the God of Israel expects praise from all the Gentile nations as well, He is the God of all people!  All people, of all nations, are obligated to the LORD.  All people owe God, for He has made them.  Not just one country, but all nations are under obligation to worship Him.

“Praise him, all ye people.”
God does not want praise from just one people, but from all peoples.  This concept was challenging for the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day to understand. These leaders believed that heaven was for the Jews alone and the Gentiles were fuel for hellfire. Jesus’ teachings made the truth very clear.

Jesus taught, many Gentiles will believe and be converted and follow God and will fellowship with the patriarchs.

“And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 8:11).

Jesus taught that the Gentiles will believe in the Messiah.

“And in his name shall the Gentiles trust,” (Matthew 12:21).

Jesus taught that the Gentiles will carry this Gospel message to the ends of the earth.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” (Matthew 28:19).

What a shock this was to the Jewish leaders to hear Jesus include the Gentiles for the blessing of salvation. Here is a great reason to praise the LORD.

Come back tomorrow as we look at “The God of All Nations,” (Part 2).