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Psalm 113
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Scripture (KJV)
1Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
2Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
3From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.
4The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,
6Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.
Summary
Psalm 113 is the first of the “Hallel” psalms (113-118) sung at Passover and other Jewish festivals. It opens with a threefold call to praise the name of the Lord, blessed from this time forth and forevermore, from the rising of the sun to its going down. The psalmist marvels that the Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens, yet He humbles Himself to behold the things in heaven and earth. This paradox—the transcendent God who stoops to notice the lowly—is the heart of the psalm.
The closing verses portray God’s transforming reversals: He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the dunghill, and seats them with princes; He makes the barren woman a joyful mother of children. Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) echoes these very themes. The major themes are praise, God’s transcendence and condescension, exaltation of the lowly, reversal, and joy. Practically, the psalm teaches that the highest God bends low to lift the lowest, and that praise is the fitting response of those He has raised. The great lesson is that the Lord who dwells on high humbles Himself to lift the needy from the dust.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 113
Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be Your name from this time forth and forevermore, from the rising of the sun to its going down. You are high above all nations, Your glory above the heavens, yet You humble Yourself to behold the things in heaven and earth. Who is like You, O Lord our God? You raise the poor from the dust and lift the needy from the dunghill, seating them with princes, with the princes of Your people. You make the barren woman a joyful mother of children. Stoop to my lowliness, lift me from my dust, and seat me among Your people. Put a new song of praise in my mouth, for You are the God who exalts the humble. Praise the Lord! In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does the paradox of God’s height and humility deepen my worship?
- 2From what “dust” or “dunghill” has the Lord lifted me?
- 3How does Mary’s Magnificat echo this psalm, and what does that reveal about God?
- 4Whom can I help lift from the dust in imitation of God’s condescension?
Related Psalms
Psalm 114
“When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;”
Psalm 114 is a short, vivid Hallel psalm that celebrates the exodus with dramatic personification.
Read morePsalm 115
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”
Psalm 115 is a communal hymn that refuses to take glory for itself, directing all praise to the name of the Lord for His mercy and truth.
Read morePsalm 116
“I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.”
Psalm 116 is a personal thanksgiving psalm in which the worshipper declares, “I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Read morePsalm 117
“O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.”
Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, yet its scope is universal.
Read morePsalm 118
“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.”
Psalm 118 is the climactic Hallel psalm, a personal and communal song of thanksgiving that frames and is framed by the refrain, “His mercy endureth for ever.
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