Psalm 113 An Investigative Report. Hallelujah, Praise Ye The Lord

Psalm 113 an Investigative Report

by William Akehurst, HSWC

Hallelujah Praise the LORD

Approaching this chapter as an investigator.

Asking, What, Who, What, Who What, When and Why.

Sounds like a song from the Who’s in Whoville from one of Dr. Seuss’ books.

Background.

Spurgeon says, this psalm needs no division.

It is called the Hallelujah psalms, 111 to 118

Psalm 113-114 are used in Chanukah and the Jewish Passover celebration.

Verses 1 to 3 are a great Call to Worship

Short Outline:

Vs 1 WHAT. Praise. WHO? The LORD, of course

WHO? You who are Servants

Vs 2-3 WHEN

Vs 4-6 He who is Above all others

Vs 5-9 REASONS WHY

Sco. God’s Continual Praise.

Approach this chapter as an investigator.

Asking, What, Who, What, Who What, When and Why.

Sounds like a song from the Who’s in Whoville from one of Dr. Seuss’ books.

Interesting. The Word PRAISE is stated in the 1st verse as if to get our attention in the matter. Almost as if trying to get us to WAKE UP!

Praise the LORD! PRAISE, o servants of the LORD, PRAISE the name of the LORD

Vs1. Do What? PRAISE. Who? GOD. What? PRAISE. WHO? US? You who are servants of the LORD

PRAISE. Repeating this word as if to ‘stir up our cold dullness to praise God, seeing his works are so wonderful, and that we are created for the same cause.’ Geneva Bible study

Verse 1. The What and Who

What? Praise

Who? the LORD

WHAT? PRAISE

WHO? You who are servants of the LORD

What is a servant? One who obeys its master, one who is in subjection to his master or ruler or overseer.

Psalm 112:1 says Blessed is the man who fears the LORD and who delights in HIS commandments.

This is the definition of a true servant.

One who delights in serving and obeying. The key word here. Obeying.

Psalm 113 Praise – Continual praise

Vs2. WHAT? HIS NAME. Blessed be the name of the LORD.

The name above all names. A holy name, sacred name, even HIS name is BLESSED

Demons flee from the mere mention of His name.

WHEN? From this time forth and forevermore!

From now, now, now, now, now, now, now and forever.

Vs3. WHEN

From when the sun rises to when it sets. Think about it, on this earth, at this very moment, the sun is setting on someone who is giving Praise to our God. And at this very same instant, the sun is rising on someone else who is giving Praise to our God. No matter where we are on this earth, at any given moment, someone is praising God!

And we are commanded by the LORD himself to do so…

Malachi 1:11 "For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts.

Vs4. WHY? ABOVE ALL

If God’s glory shines through the whole world, it would be a great condemnation if his people, to whom it mainly shines, were not to earnestly exalt and praise his holy name.

Vs5. WHY? THE HIGHEST, GREATEST, WHO CAN COMPARE?

Who can compare to our GOD? No one. Nothing is greater than our creator.

He has to humble himself to the level of the Angels in Heaven, He has to humble himself to the level of our world.

Vs6. HE MUST HUMBLE HIMSELF TO ‘STOOP’ DOWN FROM THE SKIES

Like a scene from Hook, when Tinkerbell shakes the hand or fingernail of Peter.

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.”

HE bends down low to revive our spirits

HE came from HIS high and lofty place, humbled Himself and walked this earth. HE took on the pain of our suffering, HE took the stripes upon HIS back. HE wore the crown of thorns that pierced His flesh. HE was nailed to the Cross for our sin. HE was crucified, dead and buried, and rose again, because HE wants those who love HIM to be spared and live with HIM forever.

Vs7. HE LOVES US…RAISING US FROM THE DUST FROM THE FILTHINESS WE LIE IN

By preferring the poor to high honour and giving the barren children, he shows that God works not only in his Church by ordinary means, but also by miracles.

Vs8. WE ARE LIFTED UP, GIVEN FAVOR… MADE PRIESTS AND KINGS, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD