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Psalm 113
In today’s Christian culture, we sing special songs for special occasions.
Christmas carols are an example of this custom.
During this season we celebrate Christ’s becoming man, and we sing specific songs about His birth.
Similarly, the Jews had special songs for occasions.
Psalms 113–118 form a group of songs that were used in Old Testament times as part of their religious festivals.
These psalms were especially important in the celebration of the Passover.
In Jewish homes everywhere, Psalms 113 and 114 were sung before the Passover meal, and Psalms 115–118 were sung at the close of the meal.
Among many Jewish groups, this tradition continues today.
This custom makes these psalms especially significant for us who follow Jesus.
Our Lord sang these very songs as He observed the Passover and instituted the Lord’s Supper with His disciples before His crucifixion (Mt.
26:30; Mk. 14:26).
Bible teacher John Phillips comments:
The thing that grips us about this particular group of psalms is the fact that they were sung at the Passover.
It is impossible to read them or meditate on them without thinking of the Lord Jesus there in the upper room.
The shadow of Calvary lay across His path.
Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha were only hours ahead.
There [in that upper room] He sat with Peter, James and John, Thomas and Matthew, Philip and Nathanael, and all the rest.
We can imagine that He may have led His disciples out of themselves and into the eternal truths of the will and Word of God as they sang these psalms together.
Like the two previous psalms, Psalm 113 begins with “Hallelujah”—praise the Lord(halal Yah).
It also ends with this universal statement of praise.
It is meaningful to note that the word “Hallelujah” is the same in every language and is the one word that unites the peoples of every nation, tribe, and tongue in praising the one true God.
Throughout this entire section of psalms, praising the Lord is the dominant theme.
Praise is appropriate in every circumstance and occasion of life.
However, our Hallelujahs should ring out loudest when celebrating the glorious salvation God provided for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
I.
He Is the Lord, the Only True God
(113:1a)
Psalm 113 begins with a triple command to praise God.
In every statement, precisely who is to be exalted is clear: the Lord, the only true and living God, is to be praised.
In its first occurrence, “Lord” is Yah, a shortened form of God’s great name, Yahweh or Jehovah.
In the two occurrences that follow, the full name is used.
In a world where different religions abound and many gods are worshipped, we have to boldly declare the truth that there is only one true and living God, and His name is Yahweh, Jehovah.
Many people are deceived into thinking that all religions worship the same God or that the different religions of the world all lead to the same God.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Lord alone (Yahweh) is God, and the only way to Him is through His Son, Jesus Christ (Jn.
14:6; Ac. 4:12).
He alone is worthy of praise.
II.
He Commands Your Praise
(113:1b–3)
The appeal to praise the Lord is more than just a call to worship Him.
It is a command from the Lord Himself, given through His Spirit who inspired the human authors of Scripture.
The repetition of this command emphasizes its necessity and importance.
A. Because You Are His Servant
(vv.
1b–2).
First, God’s servants are commanded to praise Him.
We who have been redeemed by the Lord and serve Him are to praise His great name.
God’s name is the representation of everything He is—His character and His attributes.
The Lord alone is absolutely …
eternal
unchangeable
all-powerful (omnipotent)
all-knowing (omniscient)
present everywhere (omnipresent)
wise
true
faithful
righteous
just
holy
good
loving
merciful
We are commanded to praise the name of the Lord both now and forever.
In this present time, we should praise God in every circumstance of life.
As the eternal ages roll by in the future, we will continue to offer our praise to Him.
In the book of Revelation, John saw a vision of God’s people in heaven worshipping and praising Him around His holy throne (Re.
4:9–11; 5:8–14).
Commentator Donald Williams said, “As we praise Him from our hearts [now] we are engaging in that which lasts throughout eternity.”
B. Because Everyone Should Praise Him
(v. 3)
God’s name is to be praised in every corner of the earth.
From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same is a poetic way of saying from east to west.
All people in all places are to praise the holy name of the Lord.
In addition, this statement commands us to praise God’s name at all times, that is, all throughout the day.
The rising of the sun announces the beginning of the day, and its setting declares the day’s end.
All people everywhere should praise the name of the Lord all day long!
To neglect praising the Lord is a sin of omission—a failure to do what God commands us to do.
Commentator Matthew Henry noted that “it is [our] business to praise Him; that is the work required of [us] as His servants.”
It is not always easy to praise God.
When trials and adverse circumstances arise, we do not always feel like exalting the Lord.
But it is at such times that our sacrifice of praise is most delightful to Him.
When we refuse to praise the Lord, we are guilty of disobeying God.
As in all areas of our lives, we need to examine ourselves to make sure we are praising God all throughout the day.
We should ask God’s Spirit to search and convict us of failing to give God the glory due Him.
If we are guilty of neglect, we should repent of our failure just as we would any other sin, asking the Lord’s forgiveness and making a new commitment to walk in obedience to Him.
III.
He Is Worthy of Your Praise
(113:4–5)
The psalmist proclaimed the matchless glory of the Lord, establishing that He alone is worthy of our praise.
He is the supreme ruler over the entire universe.
None can compare to Him.
A. He Sits Exalted High Above All Things
(v. 4).
Both all nations and even the universe
The Lord is worthy of our praise because He is high above or exalted over all nations.
His glory is even above the heavens—all the celestial bodies of the entire universe.
This verse teaches that God is King, the exalted Ruler, over both earth and heaven.
In addition, a contrast is implied between the Lord and the man-made gods of other nations.
The Holman Old Testament Commentary says, “These dumb idols were regional, local gods.
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