Psalm 113 “He Raises And He Lifts”

Psalm for Today = 113:4-8

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
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
⁸ to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.

Comments:

After the invocation of praise the Lord (v.1-3), verse 4 states that which should be obvious, yet which we continually need to be reminded of, that “The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!” It is the lot of mankind, left to himself,  to worship either the heavens as the highest and most glorious thing he can observe, or to give glory to the nation to which he belongs as the highest authority and greatest cause on the earth. Neither is true.

What also is so amazing about God in this psalm is the testimony that though he has to “look far down” to consider even our greatest works, He raises and lifts the poor and the needy from the dirt. It would seem that most often worldly power is used to keep others from getting power. Those at the top must keep everyone one else from getting to the top in some global and all too deadly game of “king of the hill”. But it is like someone hasn’t told God our rules.

What God does as the highest and most glorious is raise up the lowly and wretched and give them power and glory. He uses his might to bring satisfaction to others not to himself. Truly there is none like Him! How unlike human rulers he is.

Ironically, when God raises others (including us) up he is not diminished, but when we keep others down we are! He is a God most worthy of our praise!

Question:

·         How have we seen God raise up the poor and needy?

·         What will I do with whatever power and honor God has entrusted to me this week?