Bible Commentaries
Psalms 113

Verses 1-9

Psalms 113

The Mercy of God

Scripture v. 1-9:

Verse 1 calls all to shout out Jehovah, or give out a loud praise or hallelujah to the Lord, "all ye servants of the Lord," for this praise is a service due the "name of the Lord," due his high honor, from all "the upright," those who fear His name; It was especially true of Israel then, no less of the saved today, Psalms 111:1; Psalms 111:5-6; Psalms 34:22; Psalms 69:36; Psalms 136:22; Ezra 5:11; Nehemiah 1:10.

Verse 2 declares that "Blessed, or worthy, be (exists) the name of the Lord," because of His wonders as the living God, His deliverance of and care for His people in the past, and the integrity of His covenant oath to bless them," from this time forth and for evermore," Daniel 2:20. This, and each of the Psalms 113-118, was sung around the annual, Passover table of the Jews as the "greater hymn," or "greater Hallel."

Verse 3 adds that "From the rising of the sun (the far east) unto the going down of the same (the far west, around the world), the Lord’s name is to be praised, for His superior excellencies, as worthy, even to His second coming, Psalms 18:3; Isaiah 59:19; Malachi 1:11.

Verse 4 asserts "The Lord is high (exalted) above all nations" the Gentiles that then haughtily, with pride, oppressed Israel. Yet Jehovah was high above them all, Psalms 47:2; And "His glory existed above the heavens," and was over both them and the earth, in all His holiness, as ascribed Psalms 8:1; Psalms 19:1; Psalms 103:20-21; Psalms 148:13; Isaiah 6:1.

Verses 5, 6 challenge, just "who is (exists) like unto (to be compared with) the Lord our God, who dwelleth (continuously) on high!" The idea is none, is there? who "humbleth himself (continuously), to behold (observe) the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" Psalms 11:4; Psalms 138:6.

So exalted is He in the essence of His being, His holiness in nature, justice in deeds, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, in all power, knowledge, and presence, that his concern is an act of exceeding humility on His part, See? Isaiah 57:15; Deuteronomy 3:24; Psalms 73:25; Philippians 2:5-11. See also Job 4:18; Job 15:15.

Verses 7, 8 declare that He "raises up," elevates, lifts the poor out of the dust of death, and the "needy out of the dunghill," with a Divine purpose, manifested in His redemption of all men, even as He had of Israel, as expressed 1 Samuel 2:8; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Acts 2:31; 1 Peter 3:21-22; Psalms 44:25; Psalms 107:41.

This he does, "That he may set him (the fallen, in sin) with princes (to a state of dignity and honor), even with the princes (rulers) of his people," Job 36:7; Thus the Gentiles are redeemed, given high positions of ruling honor in His church, in the midst of Israel, in this and all succeeding ages, Matthew 16:18; Luke 22:28-30; Ephesians 3:21.

Verse 9 concludes "He makes the barren woman to keep house," where once she did not, and to be a joyful mother of children," a caretaker of children, "praise ye the Lord." This was true not only literally, but is also spiritually, Through the church, called from among the Gentiles, as His house, 1 Timothy 3:15-16; 1 Samuel 2:5; Galatians 4:27.