Dr. Couch, what is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
ANSWER: I think it would be Psalm 117. There are only two verses in this Psalm and they speak about the nations of the earth praising God in the millennial reign of Christ. They read:
Praise the Lord, all nations; laud Him, all peoples!
For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth
of the Lord is everlasting.
Praise the Lord!
Unger has it right on:
"This psalm is prophetic of the Kingdom age, when all nations and races will praise the Lord for His redemptive grace, and through Israel, He will bring salvation to the entire world. This psalm cannot be applied to any period of the Old Testament or the New Testament church period and will only be realized when Christ returns to the earth and sets up His Kingdom over Israel and (then) 'the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Isa. 11:9).'
"It is Israel's call to the whole millennial earth. It confirms the promises given to the patriarchs and makes possible the salvation of the Gentiles not only in the church period, but as in this psalm, in the Kingdom age. After Israel has been regathered, converted and established in the Kingdom blessing, she—with missionary zeal—can offer all nations the same salvation that God worked in her, for it is the salvation of the world. Thus, the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman will be fulfilled, 'Salvation is of the Jews' (John 4:22)."
Great question! Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
| 