113
📚Praise the LORD 📖! Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
113:1 This begins a series of six psalms of praise which Israel used at their great religious festivals (Leviticus chapter 23). At the time of the Passover especially, Psalms 113 and 114 were sung before the meal, and 115 – 118 after the meal. All six psalms emphasize the greatness and goodness of God, and call on His people to praise and thank Him. We cannot reasonably expect God to give us blessings in the future if we will not thank Him for those in the past.
In this psalm God’s greatness is set forth in the first six verses and His goodness in the last three verses. In the opening verse God’s servants are called on to praise Him. True service should result in praise, and the praise must not be to the servants but to God Who gives them the privilege of serving – Ps 115:1.⚜
2 📚Blessed be the name
of the LORD from this
time on and forevermore.
113:2 God’s name is His character. Praising His name is not a repetition of one or another of His names but a joyful recognition of His nature and qualities (Ps 33:1).⚜
3 📚From the rising of the sun
to its setting the LORD’s
name is to be praised.
4 📚The LORD is high above
all nations,
and his glory above
the heavens.
5 📚Who is like the LORD
our God,
who dwells on high,
6 📚Who humbles himself
to look at the things in
heaven, and on the earth?
7 📚He raises the poor out
of the dust,
and lifts the needy from
the ash heap,
8 📚That he may set him
with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 📚He causes the barren woman
to keep house,
and to be a joyful mother
of children.
Praise the LORD!