Psalm 113:1-9
The psalmist directs us to praise the LORD. The LORD is Yah or Yahweh, the same LORD who counted Abraham’s belief as righteousness. The psalmist is speaking to New Testament believers because the LORD counts belief as righteousness for who ever believes in Him.
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD” (v. 1). Praise, by definition, is an expression of respect and gratitude. All who hear the psalmist are to express respect and gratitude to the LORD who counts belief for righteousness. The servants of Him who counts belief for righteousness are to praise the name of the LORD.
Who are the servants of the self-existent God who counts belief for righteousness? The servants of the self-existent God are all believers. This includes Old Testament figures like Abraham and David who served God through faith and New Testament believers who have become the servants of righteousness by faith (Rom. 6:17-18). All who have been empowered by God’s grace to live holy lives are the servants of the LORD and are to praise His name.
The name Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus) means “the LORD saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” The name “Jesus” declares both the identity of the LORD and that which the LORD does, has done, and shall do. The name “Jesus” declares the power of Yaweh — power to give life to that which was dead. The psalmist speaks to all who know Jesus as LORD and Savior. New Testament believers, without exception, are called to praise the name of Jesus. Jesus is David’s Lord who sits at the right hand of the LORD (Ps. 110:1, Matt. 22:44-45).
“Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore” (v. 2). There is a difference between “blessed be” and “blessed is.” The psalmist, in this declaration, states the time at which “blessed be” becomes “blessed is” for believers. Time begins with Jesus; time begins when Yaweh saves and time continues for evermore. Believers are to praise the name of the LORD “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same” (v. 3).
In verse 4, the psalmist joins in the chorus of praise. “The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.” Nations build monuments to themselves as declarations of their greatness. The greatness of the nations, however, fails to serve as a measuring stick for the LORD’s greatness because His greatness exceeds the imaginations of men. His glory is beyond measure. There is no one like the LORD. The LORD our God dwells on high and dwells above that which can be measured.
“Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high” (v. 5). Who is like the self-existent God who revealed Himself to Moses and counted Abraham’s belief for righteousness? The LORD our God dwells beyond where men may physically go and dwell. Only the LORD our God humbles himself to behold things that are in heaven, and in the earth (v. 6). New Testament believers know that Jesus is the LORD who humbled Himself and took on flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14). The Comforter (the Holy Spirit) has revealed that Jesus is the Christ who was foreordained before the foundation of the world to be the Lamb who would be slain and raised up from the dead and given glory such that all faith and hope might be in God (see I Pet. 1:19-21). Jesus (Yaweh saves) is like unto the LORD our God who dwells on high.
“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children” (v. 7-9). These are declarations of the works which the LORD has done, does, and shall continue to do. The works of the LORD are words of praise. The LORD lifts the poor out the dust to be poor no more. The LORD enriches the poor. The LORD blesses the poor in spirit by providing entry into the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3). The LORD lifts up the needy. The LORD gives comfort to them who mourn from dunghills of dispair (Matt. 5:4). The LORD lifts up the poor and the needy to dwell with the princes (the favored) of His people. The LORD gives the barren woman joy by filling her home with her children. The LORD cares for the barren, for them who dwell in an empty house. New Testament believers rejoice because the LORD cares for us (I Pet. 5:7).
The closing words of Psalm 113 are: “Praise ye the LORD.” New Testament believers are called to praise the LORD in the same manner by which the psalmist joined the choir of praise-givers. The psalmist proclaimed the LORD’s greatness by declaring His works. We are to praise the LORD by proclaiming that which the LORD has done, is doing, and shall continue to do. The LORD has given us the surety of Spirit that we should be to the praise of his glory (Eph. 1:12-14). Let us declare the LORD to all people in all places (Matt. 28:19). Let us proclaim the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! His name is praise!
