This is a community song. The theme, from the first verse, is praise, praise and more praise.
Psalms in Book 5 affirm that God does answer prayer, God’s promises are valid and it includes a long love song for God’s laws. 113-118 are called the Hallel or Egyptian Hallel and come between the acrostic songs of 112, 113 & 119. In modern Jewish life, Psalms 113 and 114 are sung before the passover meal and Psalms 115-118 at its conclusion.
The books of Psalms are roughly themed like this:
Book 1: Psalms 1 – 41: God is beside us.
Book 2: Psalms 42 – 72: God goes before us
Book 3: Psalms 73 – 89: God is all around us.
Book 4: Psalms 90 – 106: God is above us.
Book 5: Psalms 107 – 150: God is among us.
113 Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and for evermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!4 The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?7 He raises the poor from the dust
Psalm 113 ESVUK
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
Praise, praise, and more praise. That’s verse 1 for you. It emphasizes it three times in distinct ways, a well-established technique in public speaking, still effective today. If you want something to be ingrained in memory, say it three times — or better yet, sing it out together three times.
In Jewish writings, the number 3 holds great significance, symbolizing God’s divine fullness, completeness, and perfection. The star of David, a prominent Jewish symbol, represents the threefold nature of God weaved aroung the threefold nature of humans, reflecting an understanding of divine completeness and harmony.
Psalm 113 has three sections of three verses each. I shall deal with them below, but in a different order.
God’s glory
Praise God for who he is.
Psalm 113 is incredibly succinct and powerful. In verse 1, we are called to “Praise God, praise God, and praise God.” The following verse urges us to “Praise God from now and forever.” Since we are in the forever, it is a constant call to praise God. Additionally, verse 3 encourages us to “Praise God from dawn to sunset.” This emphasis on praising God spans from morning to evening, reinforcing the continuous nature of our praise. With three verses dedicated to praising God, it’s abundantly clear – there couldn’t be a more overt call to rejoice in the Lord!
God’s empathy
Praise God for what he does.
The final section of many psalms reflects the beginning section, creating a sense of unity and completion. An excellent example of this literary technique can be found in Psalm 113, which forms a chiasm structure. This structure emphasizes the inclusive nature of God’s dealings with humanity. In God’s kingdom, everyone is treated with fairness and impartiality, regardless of their status. It is a place where the rich and the poor sit together as equals, reflecting the benevolent nature of God’s rule.
The final verse highlights the resilience of three remarkable women who faced challenges while raising their children: Sarah (the mother of Isaac), Rebecca (mother of Jacob), and Rachel (mother of Joseph). It also acknowledges the struggles of other mothers who experienced difficulty conceiving, such as the mothers of Samson and Samuel. The phrase “the joyous mother of children” at the conclusion of the song symbolizes the hope and joy associated with the nation of Israel, and it signifies the anticipated return from the exile in Babylon. It serves as a poignant reminder of God’s enduring blessing upon His people, even in the midst of adversity.
If you have been blessed by God, whether as part of a group or individually, feel free to celebrate and express your gratitude. Even in challenging times, it’s important to maintain a positive outlook and have faith that God will guide you through.
Who is like God
Who can be like God?
The short answer is nobody. All the Christian and Jewish commentators I have looked at agree on this.
But let me ask a different question, how can I be more like God? The answer to that could take all the blog posts I could ever write and still be insufficient—by a long way. But we can act in a godly way. Psalm 113 is short, but to the point. So is this section:
To act in a Godly way, we must have the priorities of God. This is to treat everybody the same. It means lifting up the poor and needy. It means empowering the powerless. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has published its 2024 Client Report in May, entitled: ‘Under the Rubble of Debt and Poverty: Removing the barriers that prevent us from living life to the full’[1]. I think this is a great example of what we can be doing in this respect.
< Psalm 112 | Psalm 113 | Psalm 114 >
Making an ass of myself 