It was probably an after-dinner
song, saved for special occasions (perhaps not unlike the Passover meal shown
in the picture). The composer wanted something very brief and focused, to get
one or two points across. It was intended to be something memorable and
repeatable by large numbers of worshippers for many years. How do perhaps 3,000
years and millions or even billions of people sound as marks of success for
this hymn? And yet, we know not the author, although we can guess his
nationality, and maybe even his tribal family. “Oh, Praise the Lord” has a
history that gives clues for us to uncover.
It was well-known by Jewish historical
figures in the 1st Century, and though used widely by those
worshippers, its ultimate purpose is to draw non-Israelites into God’s sphere
along with His chosen people. “Oh, Praise the Lord” is verbatim Psalm 117, with
‘ye’ and ‘endureth’ in its text leaving marks for us to discover and research,
to appreciate that its writer’s background included use of the King James
version of the Holy Bible centuries after the psalm’s genesis. The original psalm
composer was perhaps one or a group of the Temple’s Levitical musicians – an
individual or gathering of professional worshippers. Professionals who went for
something easy, not complex. That model still works centuries later, doesn’t
it? Psalm 117 was part of the Egyptian Hallel that included Psalms 113-118,
with the first several of these Psalms sung before one of the Jewish festival
meals, and the latter, like Psalm 117, sung especially after the Passover meal.
Its exhortation to ‘ye’ (us) is always preceded by ‘all’ – all ye nations, and
all ye people -- telling us its composer envisioned everyone everywhere, not
just Israelites, lifting up thanksgiving to Him. Certainly it must have been a
spirit-led, futuristic hope of which he wrote, since during the Temple’s time
few peoples beyond Palestine would have answered such an exhortation. With a dream
for what could be, perhaps yet to be seen here on earth, but especially in
Eternity, this composer penned these words of anticipation. It resonated with
the Lamb of God and His Apostles, who probably sang these words at one very
unique Passover centuries later (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26). It didn’t end there,
as Paul recognized its significance for non-Jews (Romans 15:11). Finally, a
reader of a KJV at least 1,600 – 1,900 years later recapped its import by
matching its words with music composed by William Hill in 1921. Other writers,
like Charles Naylor in 1900, also used Psalm 117 as verse 1 of his composition
by the same name, and then Naylor added three more verses.
I’m one of those non-Jews, a
Gentile, 3,000 years later. A Levite might have written “Oh, Praise the Lord”,
unsuspecting how wide it might reach someday. ‘All nations and all peoples’,
why would they want to praise Him? The composer answers, God’s mercy is unbounded and the reality of Him is undeniable and unending. Three ‘un’-conditions
of Him…they’re probably as simple to remember as the words of the hymn. Believing
them doesn’t mean I’m a simpleton, however. In fact, acting on these simple,
but inescapable facts is the wisest thing I’ll ever do. He made ‘em that way,
so that I cannot miss them. So simple, right? So what’s stopping you?
Sources for the historic background
of the Psalm 117 is found in the New International Study Bible,
copyright 1985, Zondervan Corporation. Also see the NIV Bible Commentary,
Volume 1: The Old Testament, editors Kenneth L. Barker and John
Kohlenberger III, copyright 1994 Zondervan Corporation.
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