“Praise the Lord!
Praise Him, you servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord.”

“Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time on and forever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
The name of the Lord is to be praised.”

“The Lord is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.”

“Who is like the Lord our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
Who humbles Himself to look down
On the heavens and the earth?”

“He raises the poor from the dust,
And lifts the needy from the garbage heap,
To seat them with noblemen,
With the noblemen of His people.”

“He has the infertile woman live in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!”

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Context and Meaning

Psalm 113 opens the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113–118), which were traditionally sung during Jewish feasts like Passover. It begins with a call to praise and expands to proclaim God’s exalted position and His tender concern for the lowly.

Though God is high above all, He stoops down in compassion to lift up the poor and the barren—those whom society often overlooks. It is a psalm of contrasts: transcendence and immanence, majesty and mercy.

Key Themes:

1. God Deserves Unceasing Praise: From morning until night, the Lord’s name is worthy of adoration (v. 1–3).
2. God Is Exalted Yet Near: Though enthroned in glory, He engages with the lowly (v. 4–6).
3. He Lifts the Lowly: God raises the poor and restores the broken, reversing earthly status (v. 7–8).
4. He Gives Life to the Barren: Even the childless woman rejoices in His compassion (v. 9).

Reflection and Impact

Psalm 113 gives us a rich view of God’s character—one who is both enthroned in majesty and yet deeply involved with the hurting:

• God’s greatness doesn’t make Him distant – “The Lord is high above all nations… Who humbles Himself” (v. 4–6). He chooses to draw near to us, like Philippians 2:6–8, where Christ humbles Himself for our sake.
• The poor and needy are not forgotten – “He raises the poor from the dust” (v. 7) reflects 1 Samuel 2:8 and Luke 1:52, affirming God’s heart for the humble.
• God’s presence transforms sorrow into joy – “The infertile woman… as a joyful mother” (v. 9) echoes the story of Hannah (1 Samuel 1–2) and shows how God brings life from despair.
• Praise is the right response – We are invited to praise Him always, just as Paul urges in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18.

Application

• Praise God Daily and Publicly: Let every part of your day resound with gratitude and awe.
• Trust God’s Compassion: Know that no one is beneath His care—He sees and lifts up.
• Celebrate His Reversals: Look for ways God brings hope where there was barrenness.
• Magnify His Name in Your Trials: Even in hardship, God is working with mercy and intention.

Closing Thought

Psalm 113 reminds us that our God is immeasurably high and yet intimately near. He sees the lowly, lifts the broken, and fills empty arms with joy.
“From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”