Psalms 113:1-9

Psalms 113

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE

A Song of Sublime Simplicity: reaching its Climax by Rejoicing with a Glad Mother!

ANALYSIS

Stanza I., Psalms 113:1-3, Praise Invited from Jehovah's Servants, for All Time, through All the World. Stanza II., Psalms 113:4-6, Jehovah's Incomparable Loftiness and Condescension in Contrast. Stanza III., Psalms 113:7-9, The Lowly are Exalted and the Barren Wife made Glad.

(P.R.I.) Praise ye Yah!

1

Praise O ye servants of Jehovah,

praise the name of Jehovah:

2

Let the name of Jehovah be blessed

from this time forth and to the ages:

3

From the rising of the sun unto the going in thereof

worthy to be praised is the name of Jehovah.

4

High above all nations is Jehovah,

above the heavens is his glory

5

Who is like unto Jehovah our God,

that on high sitteth,

6

that down low looketh,

In the heavens and on the earth?

7

Who raiseth out of the dust the poor,

from the dunghill[547] uplifteth the needy:

[547] Or: ash-heap.

8

To seat [him] with nobles,

with the nobles of his people.

9

Who giveth an abiding home to the barren of the house,

[now] mother of the sons to her joy!

(Nm.)[548]

[548] See 114 (beginning).

PARAPHRASE

Psalms 113

Hallelujah! O servants of Jehovah, praise His name.
2 Blessed is His name forever and forever.
3 Praise Him from sunrise to sunset!
4 For He is high above the nations; His glory is far greater than the heavens.
5 Who can be compared with God enthroned on high?
6 Far below Him are the heavens and the earth; He stoops to look,
7 And lifts the poor from the dirt, and the hungry from the garbage dump,
8 And sets them among princes!
9 He gives children to the childless wife, so that she becomes a happy mother. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord.

EXPOSITION

This is a Song of exquisite simplicity and grace. The momentary feeling that it starts with mincing steps, quickly gives place to the perception that its stairlike advances soon mount from the simple to the sublime. The servants of Jehovah are the only safe custodians of his praise. But, instead of keeping his praise to themselves, they are called upon to give it wing through all time and to the ends of the earth. So much already the first stanza embraces.

Jehovah is related to all nations, but high above them all: indeed, above the heavens is his gloryhis Messengers and Ministers are far beneath himhis throne is ever above them. Even in heaven, although he goeth high to sit, yet he bendeth low to look,which appears to settle a nice point as to the construction of the second stanza, and to intimate that even in heaven the condescension of Jehovah is recognised, and not merely here on earth. He is therefore incomparable both in the heavens and on the earth.

But the dust and the dunghill especially savour of earth. It is here that patience and hope especially need to be nursed; and silent sorrow most strongly commands our sympathy. Depressed in spirit was Hannah, before she became the mother of Samuel; and, in another way, more sorely tried, still, was Mary the mother of Jesus. The praises of Israel have been composed to help out the sorrows of sufferers into soothing and helpful expression; and the language of both Hannah and Mary is reflected or anticipated here, where, with striking significance, the last word is joy! (Cp., for the Mother City, Isaiah 60:14-22; Isaiah 66:7-14).

This psalm is the first of the series called The Hallelsometimes The Egyptian Hallelsung on occasion of the three great national festivals, the new moons and (portions of it) at the commencement of the New Year. At the Passover, this psalm and the next were sung at the beginning of the celebration, and the remaining four psalms (115-118) after the pouring out of the fourth cup. That such a psalm as this should have been made the first of such a series is profoundly significant. Only to think it possible that a King wrote this psalm while waiting in patience for the birth of his Firstborn, is to catch a glimpse of Sacred Romance.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.

What is the purpose and use of this psalm?

2.

There must be great benefit in praise or adoration to Jehovah. Why isn-'t it more prominent today?

3.

Our God is both high and low. In what sense?

4.

This is a psalm for the expectant mother. It is referred to Mary and Hannahjust how related?

5.

Sacred Romance might be involved. How?