Psalm 117 begins with these words … “O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.”

Both these verbs (identical in English, different in Hebrew) are written by the Holy Spirit as “imperatives!” God is here commanding us to be people of praise!

The first verb for “praise” is the traditional “halal” word, translated “praise” 117 times in our (King James) Bibles. But watch this … it’s “boast” 10 more times! Bragging on the dear Lord!

The second “praise” verb is “shabach” which basically means “to soothe, to gently stroke” Someone! (I think it suggests showing love in a tactile way.) It is only translated “praise” 5 times in Scripture! But it means “to commend” once and “to still” once as well.

Wow!

But the real distinction (in our verse) that caught my eye earlier today was the two nouns, parallel but implying different people groups! Look again …
“O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.”

“O praise the Lord, all ye NATIONS! The noun is “goy,” normally indicating “Gentiles!”

Then … “Praise Him all ye PEOPLE! And this noun is “ummah,” meaning one’s “tribe,” meaning “kinsfolk” being derived from a basic noun spelled “em” which in turn means “mother!” This word indicates the JEWS!

Get it?

All ye Gentiles!

All ye Jews!

Praise the Lord!

Two DISTINCT peoples! Worshipping ONE LORD!

Paul has taught us that the Cross, the Blood of Jesus, the salvation experience (faith in the Lord alone, the Son of God) will remove all distinction between the people of the world!

Look … “For He is (Jesus) our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath BROKEN DOWN the middle wall of partition between us.” Ephesians 2:15

Jews (“ummah”) and Gentiles (“goy”) … praise the Lord!

Amen!

That Day, so far only known “in part” … will finally “fully dawn” … when “every knee will bow and every tongue confess” Jesus as Lord!

Jews and Gentiles!

Let’s get started: “Praise the Lord!”

— Dr. Mike Baagwell

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