Hallelujah! The Hymn of Easter--Psalm 117

 

"Praise the LORD, all nations!

Extol Him, all peoples!

For great is His steadfast love toward us, 

and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD!"

Psalm 117 is the 5th verse in the Hallel, the song of praise we've been studying before Easter.  It's also the shortest chapter in the whole Bible.  In this ancient hymn, we find the New Covenant.

  

We hosted a Passover Seder at our house one year ago.  It was via a live stream hosted by Jews for Jesus.  In my communications with Jews for Jesus, I received this heading on an  email:

When I signed up, they asked me "Are you Jewish?" and "Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah?"  Although I know I'm a Gentile, I'm not sure I've ever been referred to as one before, and it caught me off-guard.  😅 As a Gentile, I would not have been included in the Old Covenant.  It followed the bloodline of one family--the Patriarchs--Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  

Matthew 26:26-29

I can imagine Jesus, in the upper room on His final Passover, singing these short verses.  "Praise the LORD, ALL nations! Glorify Him, ALL peoples!"   He hands the cup to His disciples and says, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."  The Old Covenant followed a certain blood line, Israel, God's beloved chosen people.  The New Covenant follows a certain blood line, too.  The blood of Christ Jesus, shed once for all.  This promise, both ancient and new, is a gift to all of humanity,     The Israelites were rescued from Egypt and from the final plague of death by applying the blood of the sacrificed Passover lamb. So are we, Gentiles and Israelites alike, rescued from sin and the final plague of eternal death by applying the blood of Jesus, sacrificed for us. Salvation offered because of the stubborn, unwavering, unrelenting, love, kindness, and mercy of God. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."   

Praise the Lord, all nations! Glorify Him, all peoples! For His faithful love to us is great; the LORD's faithfulness endures forever.  Hallelujah!