Praise The LORD! Praise, O Servants Of The LORD
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
Praise the LORD! ...
Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap.
-- Psalm 113:1a, 5-7
Theme: God's transcendence and humility
Outline
1-3 -- Praise Yahweh, praise his name.
4-6 -- Exalted above heaven and earth, he yet humbles himself and "looks far down" into the whole creation.
7-9 -- For example, he lifts up the poor, and gives home and children to the barren woman.
Notes
• Praise
• One of the Hallel Psalms (113-118).
• First of the six psalms known in Judaism as "the Hallel" (or hymn of praise), four of them using the word "Hallelujah" (Praise ye Jah), a word occurring only in the psalms.
• This group of psalms were sung at the three great festivals of Passover, Tabernacles (or Booths), and Feast of Dedication (Hannukah). At Passover, Psalms 113-114 were sung before the meal and Psalms 115-118 after. (See Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26.)
• In verse 7 "the dust" and "ash heap" (or dunghill) where the poorest and outcasts sat to beg, are metaphors for extreme degradation and misery. This verse is from 1 Samuel 2:8 (Hannah's prayer) and the "barren woman" refers to Hannah's experience.
• The Hallelujah at the end of the verses could be the opening verse of Psalm 114 (as in Septuagint).
For Reflection
• "The mystery of God's condescension (better, his humility) in taking upon himself concern for the destitute, for barren Hannah and her like, is the unique and utterly amazing miracle throughout the Bible -- the glory and self-emptying of God going hand in hand." (See Philippians 2:5-11 for the pattern.)
• "How much did God the Father humble himself when he not only formed a lump of clay, but also animated it with his breath. How much did God the Son humble himself: he became a man, he became the least among men, he took upon himself the form of a servant ... he became the unhappiest of men, he was made sin for us ... How much did God the Holy Spirit humble himself when he became a historian of the most particular, contemptible, and insignificant events on earth in order to reveal to man in his own language, in his own history, in his own ways the plans, the mysteries, and the ways of the Godhead?"1
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you left the glory of heaven to come and be one of us, that we might be raised from the dust to live with you and share your love. May your children ever speak of you with gratitude and adoring praise through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
____________
1. Johann Georg Hamann (1730-1788), from London Schriften, and quoted in Pro Ecclesia, Vol. XIV, No. 2, p. 212.
Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap.
-- Psalm 113:1a, 5-7
Theme: God's transcendence and humility
Outline
1-3 -- Praise Yahweh, praise his name.
4-6 -- Exalted above heaven and earth, he yet humbles himself and "looks far down" into the whole creation.
7-9 -- For example, he lifts up the poor, and gives home and children to the barren woman.
Notes
• Praise
• One of the Hallel Psalms (113-118).
• First of the six psalms known in Judaism as "the Hallel" (or hymn of praise), four of them using the word "Hallelujah" (Praise ye Jah), a word occurring only in the psalms.
• This group of psalms were sung at the three great festivals of Passover, Tabernacles (or Booths), and Feast of Dedication (Hannukah). At Passover, Psalms 113-114 were sung before the meal and Psalms 115-118 after. (See Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26.)
• In verse 7 "the dust" and "ash heap" (or dunghill) where the poorest and outcasts sat to beg, are metaphors for extreme degradation and misery. This verse is from 1 Samuel 2:8 (Hannah's prayer) and the "barren woman" refers to Hannah's experience.
• The Hallelujah at the end of the verses could be the opening verse of Psalm 114 (as in Septuagint).
For Reflection
• "The mystery of God's condescension (better, his humility) in taking upon himself concern for the destitute, for barren Hannah and her like, is the unique and utterly amazing miracle throughout the Bible -- the glory and self-emptying of God going hand in hand." (See Philippians 2:5-11 for the pattern.)
• "How much did God the Father humble himself when he not only formed a lump of clay, but also animated it with his breath. How much did God the Son humble himself: he became a man, he became the least among men, he took upon himself the form of a servant ... he became the unhappiest of men, he was made sin for us ... How much did God the Holy Spirit humble himself when he became a historian of the most particular, contemptible, and insignificant events on earth in order to reveal to man in his own language, in his own history, in his own ways the plans, the mysteries, and the ways of the Godhead?"1
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you left the glory of heaven to come and be one of us, that we might be raised from the dust to live with you and share your love. May your children ever speak of you with gratitude and adoring praise through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
____________
1. Johann Georg Hamann (1730-1788), from London Schriften, and quoted in Pro Ecclesia, Vol. XIV, No. 2, p. 212.
