This short song, only four lines long, is the shortest of the psalms and also the shortest chapter in the Bible.

Psalms in Book 5 affirm that God does answer prayer, God’s promises are valid and it includes a long love song for God’s laws. 113-118 are called the Hallel or Egyptian Hallel and come between the acrostic songs of 112,113 & 119. In modern Jewish life, Psalms 113 and 114 are sung before the passover meal and Psalms 115-118 at its conclusion.

The books of Psalms are roughly themed like this:

Book 1: Psalms 1 – 41: God is beside us.
Book 2: Psalms 42 – 72: God goes before us
Book 3: Psalms 73 – 89: God is all around us.
Book 4: Psalms 90 – 106: God is above us.
Book 5: Psalms 107 – 150: God is among us.

117 Praise the Lord, all nations!
    Extol him, all peoples!
² For great is his steadfast love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117 ESVUK

I always imagine this song sung over and over again, or used as a chorus in other psalms. Repetition is common in music, and I cannot imagine it being sung just once, it’s too short.

Psalm 117 makes two points despite its brevity.

• God is for everyone
• God’s good gifts are eternal

Each of those points is repeated, as is common in Hebrew poetry, to give emphasis to the points made.

Psalm 117 is so short that when it is quoted in the New Testament, the form is longer than the initial song. Here's Paul's take in the Letter to the Romans (15:8-11), using these points, and others that make the same point.

⁸ For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
    and sing to your name.”

¹⁰ And again it is said,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

¹¹ And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
    and let all the peoples extol him.”

God’s praise is for everyone. We are not to reject anyone.

That's it. Except for one more thing: This psalm is addressed not to God, but to you.

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