WHO IS LIKE OUR GOD?
Psalm 113:1-9.
PSALM 113:1. “Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.”
“Praise ye the LORD” is a translation of “Hallelujah.” It is an imperative, addressed to a plurality of people. These people are identified as “the servants of the LORD.”
“Praise” is a major part of our devotion to the LORD. “Praise” is a response of love (Psalm 116:1), from a redeemed people (Psalm 114:1). “Praise” gives glory to “the name of the LORD” for His mercy and truth (cf. Psalm 115:1).
“Praise” becomes a duty incumbent upon ‘all nations’ (Psalm 117:1), as the gospel spreads ‘to the uttermost part of the earth’ (Acts 1:8). “Praise” goes on to ‘give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever’ (Psalm 118:29).
PSALM 113:2. “Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.”
To “bless” the name of the LORD is to pay Him homage, not only with our lips, but in our hearts. When we “bless” the LORD we add nothing to Him: it is reciprocal. All blessings begin with Him, bring blessing to His people, and redound to His glory.
From now on – and even forevermore – may our innermost meditations be to “bless” the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ‘who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ’ (Ephesians 1:3).
PSALM 113:3. “From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.”
This is geographical, and anticipates the spread of the gospel across the whole circuit of the earth (cf. Matthew 24:14). Beginning at Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), the message has spread onto every continent of the planet, and the LORD’s name is praised near and far. Ere long, the gospel will have winged its way all around the globe. ‘The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea’ (Habakkuk 2:14). The full number of the Gentiles will have been gathered in, ‘and so all Israel shall be saved’ (Romans 11:25-26).
PSALM 113:4. “The LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens.”
The LORD is high above all nations, above all ranks of men. He is exalted over all authority and power. His glory reaches beyond the heavens!
PSALM 113:5. “Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high?”
This is a rhetorical question – (similar to ‘Who is so great a god as our God?’ in Psalm 77:13) - expecting the answer, ‘No-one!’
PSALM 113:6. “Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!”
It is awesome to consider God humbling Himself – stooping – to see what is going on in heaven. Likewise, in Jesus, God ‘humbles Himself’ – even to the ultimate humility of the Cross.
He is indeed, ‘high and lifted up,’ but dwells also with ‘the contrite and lowly of spirit’ (cf. Isaiah 57:15). Thus Mary could wonder with awe, ‘Thou hast regarded the low estate of thine handmaid’ (Luke 1:48).
PSALM 113:7-8. “He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill; that He may set him with princes, even with the princes of His people.”
In other words, God can make something out of ordinary people. A small David to slay a giant Goliath. A Gideon to defeat a mighty army with a comparatively small band of men. A Mary to be the mother of our Lord.
PSALM 113:9. “He makes the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”
Examples abound: Sarah, Rachel, the wife of Manoah, Hannah, Elizabeth. This is a promise extended to Israel in the return from exile - and to the church (Read Isaiah 54:1-3).
The Psalm ends as it began: “Praise ye the LORD.” Hallelujah. Amen.
