LET THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED

Psalm 113:1-9 / Keywords 113:3

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.

 

113:1 Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord, you his servants;

    praise the name of the Lord.

2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,

    both now and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

    the name of the Lord is to be praised.

4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations,

    his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,

    the One who sits enthroned on high,

6 who stoops down to look

    on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust

    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

8 he seats them with princes,

    with the princes of his people.

9 He settles the childless woman in her home

    as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

a. Psalm 113:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 9

1. God’s majesty deserves to be praised with the most eloquent poetry. Imagine how beautiful the world would be if people from the East to the West were all praising the name of the Lord (1-3).

 

2. We praise God because he is seated on his throne in glory in the highest place, far above the earth and all its problems and changeableness (4). When we think about this, our hearts are lifted up above mundane things. Then we praise God even more because in Jesus, he gave up his glory! God stoops down to help the lowly and needy on earth (5-6). He raises up the poor and needy and gives them high positions. He seeks out the lonely and gives them better homes and families than the successful and popular (7-9). God’s glory is so much greater than earthly glory because it reverses the injustice of this world’s order. It is a cause for endless praise.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for being high and mighty so I can look up to you and praise something greater than myself. And thank you even more for stooping down to save us and to show mercy in Jesus.

One Word Praise the Lord