The Book of Psalms

Psalm 113

Psalm CXIII · Vol. II, p. 1061

An exhortation to praise God for his merciful condescension to his creatures.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

Vol. II, p. 1061

1 Praise ye the LORD.¹ Praise, ^aO ye servants of the LORD, praise the name² of the LORD.

A.M. — B.C. —

1 Heb. Hallelujah, Ps.104.35;111.1.

a Ps.33.1;103.21;134.1;145.10.

2 See note on Ex. 34.6.—C.

2 Blessed^b be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

b Da.2.20. Lu.1.68. Ps.72.17-19;106.48.

3 From^c the rising of the sun, unto the going down³ of the same, the LORD's name is to be praised.

c Mal.1.11. Is.59.19; 24.15,16; 42.10-12; 49.12. Ps.22.27-31;72.19.

3 When the words rising and going down are applied to the sun, they do not merely signify from east to west, but also from north to south. For from east to west the sun has a daily rising, and from north to south an annual rising.—C.

4 The^d LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

d Ps.97.9; 8.1,9; 57.11. Is.57.15.

5 Who^e is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high;⁴

e Ex.15.11. Ps.35.10; 89.6,8. De.33.26. Is.40.12-26;46.5. Je.10.6.

4 Heb. exalteth himself to dwell, Is.57.15;66.1.

6 Who^g humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

g Ps.138.6. Is.57.15,16.

7 He^h raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

h 1 Sa.2.8. Ps.107.41;72.12-14;75.7. Eze.17.24.

8 Thatⁱ he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

i Ps.45.16. 2 Sa.7.8. Job 36.6,7. Eze.17.24; 21.26.

9 He^j maketh the barren woman ⁵to keep house,⁶ and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

j 1 Sa.2.5. Ps.68.6. Is.54.1;49.17-22.

5 Heb. to dwell in an house.

6 Literally in the case of Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah; and emblematically in the case of the barren Gentiles, who, by thousands in a day, were born of water and of the Spirit.—C.

Notes

Reflections.—O what an eternity it will require for the redeemed servants of the Lord sufficiently to praise their high, their unparalleled, their condescending Redeemer, who, by his own debasement, raises faithful believers from the pit of corruption to the loftiest thrones of bliss; and now makes the Gentile world, after long barrenness, to bring forth millions of true converts to himself in his gospel church!