PSALM 113
Praise the name of the LORD verse 1- 3
Praise you the LORD – Praise – O you servants of the LORD
praise the name of the LORD
Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore
from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same
the LORD’S name is to be praise
LORD is continually watching HIS people verse 4- 6
The LORD is high above all nations
and HIS glory above the heavens
Who is like unto the LORD our God
WHO dwells on high
WHO humbles HIMSELF
to behold the things that are in heaven
and in the earth
Praise the LORD for HIS gifts verse 7- 9
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
HE makes the barren woman to keep house
and to be a joyful mother of children
Praise ye the LORD
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 “Praise you the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD!” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ps 113:1. (Praise – Strong’s Hebrew #1984 1984 הָלַל, הָלַל, הָלַל, הַלְלוּיָהּ [halal /haw·lal/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 499, 500; GK 2145 and 2146 and 2147 and 2149; 165 occurrences; AV translates as “praise” 117 times, “glory” 14 times, “boast” 10 times, “mad” eight times, “shine” three times, “foolish” three times, “fools” twice, “commended” twice, “rage” twice, “celebrate” once, “give” once, “marriage” once, and “renowned” once. 1 to shine. 1A (Qal) to shine (fig. of God’s favour). 1B (Hiphil) to flash forth light. 2 to praise, boast, be boastful. 2A (Qal). 2A1 to be boastful. 2A2 boastful ones, boasters (participle). 2B (Piel). 2B1 to praise. 2B2 to boast, make a boast. 2C (Pual). 2C1 to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise. 2D (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one’s boast. 2E (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool. 2F (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman.
DEVOTION: The psalm begins and ends with the words Praise the LORD! That is the way our day should be as well. As we get up in the morning, we acknowledge Him and before we lay our head upon the pillow reverence Him. He alone is worthy of praise and He alone should receive it from the earliest part of our day until the end. The Israelites would sing and repeat this psalm as they made their way to Jerusalem each year! As they walked, rode or made their way to their holy city they acknowledged God’s presence. Today praise the Lord for all He has done or will do for you throughout the day!
CHALLENGE: Praise the Lord regardless of the circumstances of your day! It isn’t as bad as it could be and there is always something to praise Him for! Take a moment and praise Him! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. (1288 “Blessed” [barak] means kneel down, to invoke God, to be spoken about with excellence, to invoke God, be praised, greet, or meet another with a positive verbal exchange.)
DEVOTION: Here we have the children of Israel gathering together to worship the LORD. They want to start by calling on the name of the LORD. They want HIM to know that they are ready to hear HIM and obey HIM.
We need to make sure that we worship the LORD in the same way as the Old Testament saints did regarding their willingness to allow HIM to give them direction in their personal life.
Too often we have people coming to church but they are not coming to genuinely worship the LORD. They can come just for the time with their friends. They can come sometimes looking for help with a financial problem. They can come just to have someplace to be on Sunday.
We need to come to the LORD in our time of worship on Sunday to thank the LORD for all the blessings HE has given us throughout the week. We can always thank HIM for our salvation.
It should not to just get but to give to the LORD our genuine worship and adoration. HE is to spoken to with reverence. HE is to be praised with our singing even if we don’t have a good voice – I personally make a joyful noise to the LORD each time I sing.
Our days should be filled with praise and adoration for the LORD. It shouldn’t only happen on Sunday. Throughout the week we can praise HIM when we meet people.
Our testimony can help people understand who HE is and present a need in others.
CHALLENGE: Our praise to the LORD should happen every moment of every day to help others understand that we serve the only GOD who can provide salvation to all.
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: 6 Who humbles [himself] to behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in earth. (8213 “humbleth” [shaphel] means to be or become low, be abased, or bring down.
DEVOTION: Our responsibility to the LORD is to praise HIM. We are to sing praises to HIM. We are to glorify HIM. We are to understand that HE is the one who blesses us with gifts. HE is not a respecter of persons. HE raises the poor to sit with the rich.
When the LORD looks at us, HE has to look down from above. HE is so much higher than we can ever be. HE is different from us. HE can’t be compared to us.
We should be doing this from the time we get up in the morning until we go to bed at night. We sometimes think that HE is just like us and we can treat HIM as an equal. NOT SO!!! We have to remember who HE is and who we are.
HE is the CREATOR of the universe and everything in it. We are part of HIS creation. HE loves us and wants to help us but not because HE needs us but because of HIS love. HE enjoys raising the poor up. HE enjoys helping the needy. HE enjoys watching a woman bring forth a child.
Let’s not take advantage of HIS love and think that we are equal to HIM. Praise HIS name, not ours. Remember that HE provides our every breath. No one and nothing compares to HIM.
This psalmist can’t stop himself from praising the LORD. He wants all the followers of the LORD not to be able to contain themselves regarding praise to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We need to be excited about the one who gives us everything. HE is the one who answers our prayers. As you read the psalm can you catch the excitement in his voice? Show it in your daily conversations with others.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 HE raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill. (34 “needy” [‘ebyown] means beggar, in want, subject to oppression and abuse, or general reference to the lower class)
DEVOTION: Most of us that are reading these devotionals might not really understand what it means to be so poor that you have no place to stay and no one to help. Most of us have people who will help us in need. Most of us have a place to stay. The problem is that there is a large group of people today that are staying each night at a city mission or out on the street.
In some cities if the temperature drops below a certain level there will be other places opened up to get people off the street, so that, they don’t die from exposure to the cold.
Most of those who are reading this have never had to stay in a City Mission or place like it.
In the Old Testament when Christ was walking the streets, HE would meet people who needed food and a place to live. HE helped them. HE set the example for the rest of us to be individuals that help those who have genuine needs.
When was the last time you helped someone who had a genuine need? When was the last time your church helped a family with genuine needs? We are here, to reach people with the gospel but also to help them live a life that is pleasing to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: The LORD was one who used people to help others. Are we helping others the way we should?
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: 9 He makes the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise you the LORD. (8056 “joyful” [sameach] means glad, merry, happy, filled with joy, delight, or contentment)
DEVOTION: In the day and age of the Psalmist having children was a blessing from the LORD. Many women prayed for children that were barren. Every Israelite woman thought that her child if it was a male could be the Messiah.
So when they had a male child they thought it might be the Messiah. It gave them more reason to be praising the LORD. If they brought the Messiah into the world, they were going to bring a blessing on the entire nation.
God allowed women to have babies and if a woman didn’t have any children, it was considered a curse from the LORD. So here we have a woman who was barren or without a child having a child and it caused her great gladness. She was praising the LORD for the ability to have children.
Today it seems that many women consider having a child to be a burden instead of blessing of the LORD. Some women would rather not have any children than have one or two. Some are having children just for the money the government will give them for them and will spend them money on themselves rather than their babies.
We need to get back to a time when we consider children to be a blessing from the LORD and raise them to honor the LORD instead of considering them a burden and not taking the time to raise them to honor the LORD.
If you are a parent, do you consider your child a blessing from the LORD or a burden? Are you raising them to honor the LORD because you are honoring the LORD with your life? Is they joy in your heart when you look into the eyes of your children?
CHALLENGE: God still considers a child to be a blessing and a responsibility for every parent. Honor the LORD with each of your children!!! Show them that they are not a burden but a blessing!!!
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Praise verse 1, 3, 9
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1- 5, 9
Name of the LORD verse 1
Blessed be the name of the LORD forever verse 2
LORD is high above all nations verse 4
God’s glory above the heavens verse 4
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 5
LORD our God verse 5
Dwells on high verse 5
Humbles HIMSELF to behold things in
Heaven and earth verse 6
Raises the poor verse 7
Lifts the needy verse 7
Gives barren woman children verse 9
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
All nations verse 4
Poor verse 7
Needy verse 7
Princes verse 8
Barren woman (keep house)
joyful mother of children verse 9
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Praise verse 1, 3, 9
Praise the name of the LORD verse 1, 3
from rising of sun until going down
of the sun
Servants verse 1
Humbles verse 6
Joy verse 9
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Servants of the LORD verse 1
Princes of HIS people verse 8
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
Samach usually refers to a spontaneous emotion or extreme happiness which is expressed in some visible and/or external manner. It does not normally represent an abiding state of wellbeing or feeling. This emotion arises at festivals, circumcision feasts, wedding feasts, harvest feasts, the overthrow of one’s enemies, and other such events. The men of Jabesh broke out joyously when they were told that they would be delivered from the Philistines (1 Sam. 11:9).
The emotion expressed in the verb samach usually finds a visible expression. In Jer. 50:11 the Babylonians are denounced as being glad and “jubilant” over the pillage of Israel. Their emotion is expressed externally by their skipping about like a threshing heifer and neighing like stallions. The emotion represented in the verb (and concretized in the noun simchah) is sometimes accompanied by dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments. This was the sense when David was heralded by the women of Jerusalem as he returned victorious over the Philistines (1 Sam. 18:6). This emotion is usually described as the product of some external situation, circumstance, or experience, such as found in the first biblical appearance of samach: God told Moses that Aaron was coming to meet him and “when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart” (Exod. 4:14). This passage speaks of inner feeling which is visibly expressed. When Aaron saw Moses, he was overcome with joy and kissed him (v. 27).
Therefore, the verb samach suggests three elements: (1) a spontaneous, unsustained feeling of jubilance, (2) a feeling so strong that it finds expression in some external act, and (3) a feeling prompted by some external and unsustained stimulus.
This verb is used intransitively signifying that the action is focused on the subject (cf. 1 Sam. 11:9). God is sometimes the subject, the one who “rejoices and is jubilant”: “The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works” (Ps. 104:31). The godly are to “be glad in the Lord, and rejoice … and shout for joy …” (Ps. 32:11). Samach can also mean “to be joyful or glad.” In the place the Lord chooses, Israel is “to be joyful” in all in which the Lord blesses them (Deut. 12:7). Used thus the verb describes a state into which one places himself under given circumstances. It has a further and technical sense describing all that one does in making a feast before God: “And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days” (Lev. 23:40).
In a few cases the verb describes an ongoing state. In 1 Kings 4:20 the reign of Solomon is summarized as follows: “Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.” (Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 1, pp. 196–197). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.)
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The psalm concludes on the note it began with. The final call to praise is so much more conclusive, as the psalmist has developed two reasons for the praise of the Lord: his sovereignty (vv. 4–5) and his loving acts of care (vv. 6–9a) (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 715). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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The other example is that of the barren woman who becomes a happy mother. In Israel’s history several barren women were given children (e.g., Sarah, Rachel, Hannah). To the Israelites, this was a mark of God’s gracious blessing.
The point of the psalm is that God by His grace does marvelous and mighty deeds for those in need and distress. That is why He is worthy of praise. The psalm concludes with the admonition to worship, Praise the Lord (halelû-yāh; cf. v. 1). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 875). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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7–9 The shared exaltation. He is himself exalted (4); he lifts, ‘exalts’ the needy; he who sits enthroned (5) seats the needy (enthroned)—out of the dust, onto a throne, into personal fulfilment. He takes people in their helplessness (poor … needy), countermands their unworthiness and reverses their hopelessness. How true all this is of the inner realities of the exodus—from the Lord’s control over earthly powers (Ex. 4:22–23; 14:30–31) to his awareness of his people’s needs (Ex. 2:24–25; 3:7) and to the despairing cries of forcibly bereaved mothers (Ex. 1:22)! But its revelation of the Lord is permanent: what he was then, he is now. (Carson, D. A., France, R. T., Motyer, J. A., & Wenham, G. J. (Eds.). (1994). New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 562). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
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Psalm 113. This first of the “Hallel” group of psalms seizes upon God’s dramatic reversal of human conditions, as in raising the poorest beggars to mix with princes, or bestowing home and children upon the barren woman. The immediate occasion for this observation is lost to us, though both metaphors occur (among others with similar import) in Hannah’s song (1 Sam. 2:5, 8). In public worship, the change in Judah’s fortunes on return from exile could well find expression in such figures of speech. This particular manifestation of the condescending graciousness of God, glorious above all nations, is the reason given for praising the name of the Lord, at all times and in all places. (Elwell, W. A. (1995). Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, Ps 113:1). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
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113:9 the barren woman. Sarah (Ge 21:2), Rebekah (Ge 25:21), and Rachel (Ge 30:23) would be the most significant since the outcome of the Abrahamic Covenant depended on these childless women being blessed by God to be mothers. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ps 113:9). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
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FROM MY READING:
A GLIMPSE INTO ETERNITY
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. John 17:5
The Lord is looking at what is before Him, and this is His prayer. Having completed all the work, having done everything that the Father had appointed Him to do, He asks, as it were, “Has not the time now arrived when I can come back to You, exactly where I was before? I have done the work. Father, ‘glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.’” But the astonishing thing for us to remember at this point is that He goes back as God-Man! In eternity He was God the Son, pure deity, and He shared the glory; but now He goes back as God-Man. And as God-Man, and our representative, the glory that He momentarily laid aside at the request of the Father is restored to Him, and thus as God-Man and Mediator He again shares this ineffable glory of the eternal God.
And so this prayer was answered. It began to be answered at the resurrection, the event that finally convinced even the disciples that He was the Son of God. They did not quite understand it before, but, as Paul puts it in writing to the Romans, our Lord was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). Who is this who has conquered death and the grave? He must be, He is the Son of God. Consider the appearances after the resurrection. You find the disciples in Jerusalem behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews, and suddenly He came in without the door being opened. “You see who I am,” he says in effect. “I have flesh and bones, and I can eat.” See the glorious person of this risen Lord.
A Thought to Ponder
In eternity He was God the Son, but now He goes back as God-Man.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 77-78, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Beware of Balaam
“O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.” (Micah 6:5)
Three New Testament writers have left us sober warnings concerning Balaam. Peter warned against “the way of Balaam”; Jude against “the error of Balaam”; and John against “the doctrine of Balaam” (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11; Revelation 2:14). God evidently considers these warnings necessary and appropriate for Christians even today. Yet Balaam, in his day, was a genuine prophet (note 2 Peter 2:16), possessed great knowledge concerning God, and even received direct revelations from God. What, therefore, were his way, his error, and his doctrine?
“The way of Balaam” was a readiness to prostitute his high spiritual gifts and privileges for “the wages of unrighteousness” (v. 15); being willing to preach something contrary to God’s Word for personal gain.
“The error of Balaam” was evidently his willingness to compromise his own standards of morality and truth in order “greedily” to accommodate those of his pagan patrons (Jude 1:11). Finally, “the doctrine of Balaam,” which even in John’s day was already infiltrating the church, was to use his own teaching authority to persuade God’s people that it was all right for them also to compromise their standards, even “to commit fornication” (Revelation 2:14) with their idol-worshiping enemies.
The notoriously corrupt state of much that is counterfeiting true Christian ministry today is clear evidence that those warnings against “Balaam-ism” are still urgently needed. No wonder Micah (the faithful prophet) urged God’s people to “remember” Balaam and his tragic end (Numbers 31:8). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Sweet Sleep
When you lie down, you will not be afraid [and] your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24
When my friend Floss lies awake at night, she thinks about the lyrics of the hymn “My Jesus I Love Thee.” She calls it her “middle-of-the-night” song because it helps her to remember God’s promises and the many reasons she loves Him.
Sleep is a necessary—but sometimes elusive—part of life. At times we may sense the voice of the Holy Spirit bringing unconfessed sin to our mind. Or we begin worrying about our job, our relationships, our finances, our health, or our children. Soon a full-scale dystopian future starts running on a loop in our brain. We assume we nodded off for a bit, but when we look at the clock, we realize it’s been only moments since we last checked.
In Proverbs 3:19–24, King Solomon suggested that we can receive sleep benefits when we embrace God’s wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. In fact, he claimed, “They will be life for you . . . . When you lie down, you will not be afraid [and] your sleep will be sweet” (vv. 22, 24).
Maybe we all need a “middle-of-the-night” song, prayer, or Bible verse to softly whisper to help us shift our jumbled-up thoughts to a mind fully focused on God and His character. A clear conscience and a heart full of gratitude for God’s faithfulness and love can bring us sleep that’s sweet. (By Cindy Hess Kasper, Our Daily Bread)
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Here’s a definition of doubt: Doubt is the absence of faith. …. Doubt is a lack of confidence or assurance that God will keep His promises. (p.139)
When questions about God’s willingness or ability to keep His promises persist, the attitude becomes a lifestyle – and we are on a bus to cactus country. (p. 140)
Faith is not a part of the Christian life… it’s the whole thing. (p. 142)
The purpose of the test isn’t just to reveal your faith; it’s also to refine your faith. God doesn’t test your faith so He can know how much is there – He already knows. He tests your faith so that you can know how much is there and see it grow. (p. 143)
The circumstances of life either shrink or stretch your faith. Either you get better or you get bitter. The choice is yours. (p. 146)
… those who choose doubting as their lifestyle will spend their lifetimes in the wilderness. (p. 149)
Those who study human experience agree almost universally that life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you choose to respond. (p.150)
Attitudes keep me going or cripple my progress. Attitude alone fuel my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitude is right, there is no barrier too high nor valley too deep not dream too extreme nor challenge too great for me. (p. 150)
I don’t understand why parents who won’t let their kids choose their diets, their study habits, or what they’re going to watch on television, do let their children choose what music they listen to, who their friends are, and what their extracurricular activities are going to be. (p. 151)
Let’s wake up to the reality that our kids are hemorrhaging in the world, because we have not clued in to the influences that are stealing their hearts from God. (p. 152)
In spiritual matters, it’s not I’ll-believe-it-when-I-see-it, it’s I’ll-see-it-when-I-believe-it. (p. 154, LORD, Change My Attitude (Before It’s Too Late) by James MacDonald.
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