Psalm 113:1-3

Psalm 113:1-3

Praise the Lord!

This is the beginning of what is called the “Egyptian Hallel.” The Hallel encompasses Psalms 113-118, and it became part of the Jewish liturgy at all major festivals including Passover. At this symbolic event, Psalms 113 and 114 were sung before the Passover meal and before the second cup, the Cup of Praise, was drunk. Psalms 115 to 118 were sung after the meal, when the fourth cup, the Cup of Thanksgiving, had been filled. 

This Psalm is a hymn to the Lord, and it celebrates His name and His authority. In addition, it reminds us that the Lord is not impressed by the status that the world places on people, He shows mercy and favour to the poor and seats them with princes. In everything He is to be praised.

 

V1-3    Notice that this Psalm begins with a number of injunctions to praise the Lord!

V1        Praise the Lord

V1        Praise the Lord, you His servants

V1        Praise the name of the Lord

V2        Let the name of the Lord be praised

V3        The name of the Lord is to be praised

 

Who is it that should praise Him and when should He be praised??

V1        You His servants

V2        Both now and forevermore

V3        From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets

 

Those who know and love the Lord are being commanded here to keep on praising Him because He is Lord (YAHWEH), and to keep on praising His wonderful name. This praise must continue until it fills all time and all space. There must be no let-up, there is no place where His praise cannot and should not be heard. There is no time of day when servants who are awake should not praise Him. The name of the Lord is stamped on every activity upon the earth from our waking moments until we lay down to rest. He is entitled to our praise during every second that we are awake and for every day that we are alive. Let’s make this a day of praise that is part of a lifetime of praise! Praise the Lord! 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 106:13

Psalm 106:13 Do not forget We need to remember that Israel’s relationship with the Lord God was based on His laws and their obedience. It was possible for them to live lives that were highly blessed, that incorporated the provision of God in every tiny detail of their national and individual existence. God was prepared to give them everything they needed, He would provide food and water for them and their flocks. He would guide them on their journey. He would protect them from their enemies. He would inspire and direct their leaders. He would keep them from the heat of the sun and the terrors of the desert night. He would take them to the land that He had promised, in double quick time. There was no reason why they could not be in situ in just a few months. Everything they could possibly need was His to provide and He was willing to sacrifice anything to see them gratefully settled in Canaan.  There was just one snag, it all depended upon their obedience and faithfulness. God insis...
Read more

Psalm 51:4

Psalm 51:4 Deliberate sin In Genesis 20 we read the story of Abimelek and Abraham. The latter had passed off his wife Sarah as his sister and Abimelek had taken her with a view to her becoming his wife. The relationship was not consummated, and the Lord used a dream to reveal to Abimelek just what was going on. The insulted king pleaded innocence,  “I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands ” he said, to the Lord. And God agreed,  “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me.”  This is a big subject but there is clearly a difference between sinful intentions and deeds where the participant knows that he/she is doing wrong, and those occasions where an action is carried out in innocence.  David knew all along that every detail of his relationship with Bathsheba was sinful, as were his actions in the cover-up. Therefore, he sinned against the Lord God and broke the commandments which said that  “Y...
Read more

Psalm 84:3

Psalm 84:3 All about sparrows Any visitor to Jerusalem will know that the city is a haven for sparrows. Houses and other buildings in Middle Eastern cities are not built to keep out the cold with double-glazing and UPVC everywhere. There are literally millions of little holes and crevasses and places where birds can hide and build their nests. As a result, the air is filled with the sound of the sparrows at all times, and in the summer months, swallows, swifts and martins swoop across the rooftops. (Along with many other birds that I would love to mention but that would be totally irrelevant). Evidently nothing has changed for centuries, because these sights and sounds greeted visitors to the Temple back in the day when Psalm 84 was composed. And the author is envious. These winged avian residents and visitors can enter where he cannot! They nest and congregate around the Temple Courts, high up and out of the reach of man’s interference and so they occupy a place closer to God than any...
Read more