Psalms 113

Psalms 113 is a fervent call to praise the LORD's name from all His servants, continually and universally. It extols God's transcendent greatness, noting His position high above all nations and heavens. Yet, it also highlights His humble condescension to observe earthly affairs and His compassionate power to uplift the poor, the needy, and to bless the barren with children.

The psalm begins with an emphatic exhortation for the servants of the LORD to praise His name, declaring it blessed from everlasting to everlasting. This praise is to be universal, extending from the rising to the setting of the sun. The psalmist then describes the LORD's supreme majesty, asserting His elevation above all nations and His glory surpassing the heavens, questioning who can be compared to Him. Despite His lofty dwelling, the LORD is depicted as humbling Himself to observe both heavenly and earthly matters. This divine condescension is manifested in His acts of mercy, as He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dunghill to set them among princes. Furthermore, He grants the barren woman the joy of motherhood, transforming her household. The psalm concludes by reiterating the call to praise the LORD for these wondrous works.

Psalms 113 commences with a repeated and urgent command to "Praise ye the LORD," specifically addressing the servants of the LORD to praise His holy name. The psalmist declares the LORD's name blessed perpetually, "from this time forth and for evermore," establishing an eternal and continuous obligation of worship. This praise is to be geographically boundless, encompassing the entire world "from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same." The psalm then shifts to describe the LORD's unparalleled transcendence and majesty, stating that He "is high above all nations" and His "glory above the heavens," emphasizing His supreme dominion. A rhetorical question, "Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high," underscores His unique and incomparable nature. Despite His exalted dwelling, the psalm marvels at His divine attribute of condescension, as He "humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth." This profound humility is then illustrated through specific acts of His providential care for the lowly. The LORD is shown to "raiseth up the poor out of the dust" and "lifteth the needy out of the dunghill," elevating them from their abject state. His purpose in doing so is "that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people," demonstrating His power to reverse fortunes and grant dignity. Finally, the psalm highlights His miraculous ability to transform barrenness into fruitfulness, making "the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children." The psalm concludes as it began, with a final exhortation, "Praise ye the LORD," reinforcing the central theme of divine adoration for God's majesty and mercy.