Psalms

Psalms 113: The high LORD lifts the lowly

Begin in prayer

Before we praise the Lord above the heavens, let us consider the lowly people He notices and the mercy we need. Ask Him to bring us to Jesus and give us thankful hearts ready to serve.

I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.

Hosea 11:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the Lord is above all nations and stoops to lift the poor and give joy. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The Lord's servants are called to praise His name now and forever. From sunrise to sunset His name deserves praise, for He is high above the nations and His glory is above the heavens. No one is like the God enthroned on high, who stoops to see heaven and earth. He raises the poor from dust and the needy from the ash heap to sit with the princes of His people. He gives the barren woman a home filled with the joy of motherhood, and the song ends by calling for praise.

As you read Psalms 113, look for the answers:

• How high is the Lord's glory? (verse 4)
• Whom does He lift from the ash heap? (verses 7 and 8)

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD deserves unending praise, for His glory is above the heavens and He stoops to lift the lowly.

The call to praise reaches across time and across the whole course of the sun. Nations cannot measure God's greatness, for His glory rises above the heavens themselves. His high seat makes the question about His likeness answer itself, no other god shares His majesty. Yet He stoops to see heaven and earth, and the song names people the world might overlook. Dust and the ash heap picture the poor person's low condition, from which God raises him to honoured company. The barren woman's joy shows His care reaching a sorrow no human rank can remove. These acts belong to the greatness being praised, for the One seated above all notices and lifts people brought low. His servants therefore have reason to bless His name wherever the sun shines and through all the years to come.

How does Psalm 113 show us that the LORD deserves unending praise, for His glory is above the heavens and He stoops to lift the lowly?

God's name deserves praise through every place and every generation.

The servants are called to praise from this time forward and forever. Sunrise and sunset carry the call across the earth. The Lord's glory above nations and heavens gives that praise its reason.

God's unmatched majesty includes His care for the poor and needy.

The One seated on high stoops to see heaven and earth. He lifts people from dust and the ash heap into honoured company. Their low place never puts them beyond the notice of His great mercy.

God brings the sorrow of childlessness into the joy of motherhood.

The song ends with a barren woman settled as a joyful mother. Her changed home gives the servants another reason to praise. The Lord's care reaches the personal sorrow named beside His glory over the heavens.

Memorise

From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, Yahweh’s name is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, whose need am I overlooking while I praise the Lord Jesus?

The God who “has his seat on high” stoops to see heaven and earth. His glory stands beside His lifting of the poor and His gift of a mother's joy. His greatness gives needy people reason to call upon Him.

Our pride has despised both God and the people He made. Philippians 2 verse 8 tells how Jesus humbled Himself in obedience to death on the cross. There Jesus died for His people, accepting their condemnation as the humbled Son who brings proud sinners into God's welcome. He rose to life. His finished saving work is enough for their pardon and welcome, with no further payment left for them to make.

Turn from pride and trust Jesus for mercy. He forgives every sinner who seeks refuge in Him. Ask Him to teach you to notice the person others pass by. The exalted Lord opens His believing people's eyes to lowly neighbours, giving them reason to join praise with willing service.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the Lord is above all nations and stoops to lift the poor and give joy. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Praise the Lord for His unmatched glory and His care for people brought low. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.

John 3:13

Glorious Father, Your name deserves praise from sunrise to sunset and through every generation. Please forgive our pride and lead us to Jesus, who humbled Himself to secure His people's pardon. Comfort those burdened by poverty and childlessness. Teach Your church to notice people brought low, share what we have and serve with joy beneath Your gracious care. Amen.