**The Song of the Nations: A Story Inspired by Psalm 117**
In the days when the kingdoms of the earth were many and the hearts of men were divided, there arose a whisper among the nations—a whisper that grew into a song, a song of praise to the God of Israel. It was a song that transcended borders, languages, and traditions, for it was born not of human hands but of the Spirit of the Lord. This is the story of how the shortest psalm, Psalm 117, became a hymn that united the nations in worship of the One True God.
—
The sun rose over the ancient city of Jerusalem, its golden rays illuminating the Temple Mount where the great house of the Lord stood. The morning air was filled with the scent of incense and the sound of Levites singing psalms of praise. Pilgrims from distant lands had gathered in the city for the Feast of Tabernacles, their colorful garments and foreign tongues adding to the tapestry of worship. Among them was a young man named Eliab, a merchant from the far-off land of Cush. He had traveled for months to reach Jerusalem, driven by a longing he could not explain—a longing to know the God of Israel.
Eliab stood in the outer court of the Temple, his heart pounding as he watched the priests offer sacrifices on the altar. He had heard stories of the Lord’s mighty deeds—how He had delivered Israel from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and brought His people into the Promised Land. But it was not these acts of power that had drawn Eliab to Jerusalem. It was something deeper, something he had felt in the quiet moments of his journey—a sense of the Lord’s unfailing love and faithfulness.
As the Levites began to sing, their voices rising in harmony, Eliab heard a psalm unlike any he had ever known. It was short, only two verses, but its words struck him to the core:
*”Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.”*
The words echoed in Eliab’s heart, filling him with a joy he could not contain. He turned to a fellow pilgrim, a woman from Greece named Lydia, and asked, “What does this mean? Why does the God of Israel call all nations to praise Him?”
Lydia smiled, her eyes shining with understanding. “The Lord is not only the God of Israel,” she replied. “He is the Creator of heaven and earth, the One who made all peoples and longs to gather them to Himself. His love is not confined by borders, and His faithfulness reaches to the ends of the earth.”
Eliab’s heart swelled with wonder. He had always believed that the gods were distant and capricious, demanding sacrifices but offering little in return. But the God of Israel was different. His love was steadfast, His faithfulness unending. And He was calling all nations—Cushites, Greeks, Romans, and more—to join in His praise.
—
That evening, as the sun set over Jerusalem, Eliab joined a group of pilgrims from many nations gathered in the shadow of the Temple. They shared stories of their journeys and their encounters with the Lord. A Roman soldier spoke of how he had heard of the God of Israel while stationed in Galilee and had come to seek Him. A woman from Persia told of a dream in which she had seen a great light shining from Jerusalem, drawing her to the city. And Eliab shared his own story—of how the words of Psalm 117 had awakened his heart to the truth of God’s love.
As they spoke, a Levite approached with a lyre in his hands. “Brothers and sisters,” he said, “let us sing the psalm that unites us all.” And together, they lifted their voices in praise:
*”Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.”*
The song rose into the night sky, a symphony of voices from every corner of the earth. It was a foretaste of the day foretold by the prophets, when all nations would stream to the mountain of the Lord and worship Him as one.
—
Years later, Eliab returned to Cush, but he carried the song of Psalm 117 in his heart. He taught it to his family and his neighbors, and soon it spread throughout the land. The people of Cush, who had once worshipped idols, now sang of the Lord’s unfailing love and faithfulness. And though they were far from Jerusalem, they were united with the people of Israel—and with believers from every nation—in spirit and in truth.
For the psalm was not merely a song; it was a promise. A promise that the Lord’s love would never fail, that His faithfulness would endure forever, and that one day, every knee would bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
And so, the song of Psalm 117 continues to echo through the ages, a hymn of praise that unites the nations and proclaims the glory of the One True God.
*”Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.”*
