Psalm 113:1, 4-9 (NIV)
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, you his servants; praise the name of the LORD. The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God. The One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.
The Psalms contain three collections titled Hallel, with Psalms 113-118 known as the Egyptian Hallel, mainly because of their connection with Passover celebrations, commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The Psalms of the Egyptian Hallel were sung as part of the Passover ceremony, with 113-114 sung before the meal and 115-118 after. Regarding these psalms, G. Campbell Morgan said, “This group is necessarily of special interest to us because in all probability, these psalms were sung by our Lord and His disciples on that dark night in which He was betrayed.” Imagine that for a moment. Jesus had just led his disciples through the very first communion meal and knew that his death by crucifixion was imminent. Before heading to the mount of olives and then to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus led them in a song of praise as it was the eve of the Passover. It most likely was Psalm 113.
The people had largely begun to walk away as His teachings got harder. Judas had already left to betray Him into the hands of his accusers. He knew that his hour of agony was coming. He told the disciples that they would all fall away. Peter argued with him and declared that, “Even if all fall away, I will not” (Mk. 14:29). Jesus’ rebuke of Peter’s pride was swift and stark. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times” (Mk. 14:30). In the midst of all that pain and anguish and yes, fear…Jesus still led them in a song of praise.
It is a necessary contemplation for all of God’s children to consider His interest and concern in our lives relative to his surpassing power and glory and majesty. “The LORD is exalted above all nations…above the heavens…who sits enthroned on high…who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth.” The great reformed pastor and theologian James Boice remarked that, “What amazes the psalmist is that God is exalted so high that he has to stoop low to see not only the earth but also the heavens, and yet at the same time he cares for the lowly.” We look up into the great expanse of the heavens and even our most powerful telescopes won’t allow us to view the outer expanses of the universe…but from God’s lofty position, He looks down to see it all? That is a reality that the human mind simply cannot fathom, but yet it remains true. If the Creator God spoke everything into existence, then He is not only outside of that creation—He is far above it. YET, He still “stoops down” to look into the most intimate details of your life and mine. “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Ps. 8:4).
When things are tough, we can struggle with a sense of entitlement, as if God owes us something. I don’t know where that comes from other than the groanings of a broken heart and mind that simply cannot comprehend the extravagance that awaits us in Heaven. Spurgeon addressed this reality in his comments about the closing verses of today’s psalm. They are not easy to read, but they are truths that needs to be heard:
“What a heap of loathsomeness we have accumulated by our sinful lives! What reeking abominations surround us in the society of our fellow men! We could never have risen out of all this by our own efforts—it was a sepulcher in which we saw corruption and were as dead men. Almighty were the arms which lifted us, which are still lifting us, and will lift us into the perfection of heaven itself.”
Praise the LORD.
