Psalm 113
Sunday, 1 August 2021
Who is like the LORD our God,
Who is enthroned on high…? –Psalm 113:5
Psalm 113 is one of the series of Hallel Psalms (usually sung at the Passover Festival) which gives praise to God, starting and ending with “Praise the LORD!” The LORD is to be praised forever—from the rising of the sun to its setting (V.3)—implying also the east and the west, pointing to the universal praise of God.
In our key verse the question is asked: “Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high…?” (V.5) The answer is – there is no one and nothing else compares with Him!! He is the LORD of hosts, King of kings, His might and power are indescribable! He is worthy of honour!
For a child of God, He is a loving Father, who has demonstrated His love and mercy in sending His begotten Son for saving you and me and all mankind!
There was no other way for one lost in sin and far away from God, to return to Him—except through our Saviour. Isaiah 53:6 reminds us that all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Jesus paid for our sin by His death that we would be accepted by God. A remarkable decision for Christ Jesus to come down from heaven to earth, in the human form to seek and save the lost! “…being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil.2:5-9) How great is His love in willingly choosing to carry out God’s plan of salvation for the sinner!
The plan and purpose of God didn’t end there. In our reading portion two things are described about His mighty plan.
“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes…” (Vs.7-8). The salvation and eternal promises are described here and through Jesus Christ we receive all these blessings. “But you are a chosen race…. that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1Peter 2:9-10). His choice may be foolish in the eyes of the world—He has chosen from fishermen to be fishers of men, the prostitute to proclaim His name; the servant of kings to become servants of God….the list goes on! For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (1Cor.1:26-27).
“He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!" (V.9). It pictures the joy of a blessed family giving praise to God! We are reminded of Hannah who was blessed with Samuel and how she praised God! In a broader sense, the barren lands and people through the Gospel will receive salvation and many will come and praise His mighty name-Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! (V.2)
Today praise God for the privilege of being His child! He chose each of us in Him to proclaim the good news. In His marvellous plan we are to be a part of that great task by sharing /witnessing His goodness/good news to the whole world. Let us do it faithfully!
To Meditate: “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.— we preach Christ crucified” (1Cor.1:21 &23)
Listen: ‘Who is like the LORD our God?’