Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!
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.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
REFLECTION:
Psalm 113 is the first of a collection of six psalms (Ps. 113-118) used in the celebration of Passover. They affirmed God for raising up the oppressed (Ps. 113), and for deliverance from Egypt (Ps. 114). They offered the praise of the community (Ps. 115), the individual (Ps. 116), and all the nations (Ps. 117). The cycle concluded with an exultant shout of praise that looked forward to the coming Messiah. (Ps. 118)
Passover was truly a season of praise. Each year, the Jewish people recalled all God had done for them as each Jewish family reenacted the supper held the night death struck Egypt and passed by the blood-marked homes of God’s own. At last Pharaoh agreed to release his slaves. Passover thus was a festival of freedom, a joyous celebration of God’s salvation.
The God of Israel, who is exalted over all nations and whose glory is above the heavens, stooped down to raise “the poor from the dust,” and lift “the needy from the ash heap”. It is fitting to praise the Lord God.
We Christians, too, have a Passover to celebrate. God in Christ became a man and humbled Himself to accept death that we, who are marked with His blood through our faith, might be lifted up beyond princes, to stand before the very throne of God.
Spend some time meditating on your own Passover experience. Offer a praise and thanksgiving to God and the Passover Lamb.
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
1 Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
2 His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked will perish!
REFLECTION:
Psalm 112, like Psalm 111, is an acrostic psalm, with each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. While Psalm 111 celebrates God’s mighty deeds on behalf of the people, Psalm 112 offers instruction for response to God by the people.
This psalm puts the spotlight on humans, focusing on the blessings enjoyed by those who fear God. (vv2-3) Though living in a dark and evil world, God’s people will be secure and steady because their hearts are with the Lord. (vv4, 7-8, 10) Having themselves experienced God’s mighty acts on their behalf as well as God’s quiet, steady action of blessing (v2), they will share with the poor what God has given them (vv5, 9).
If our sense of security and happiness depends on the stock market, the weather forecast, the evaluation report, we will continually be anxious of the “bad news.” However, if we honour the Lord, live according to God’s commandments and respond to God in praise and worship, our lives are built upon the solid eternal foundation of the Lord. We are being transformed by our relationship with the Lord and we will not be “afraid of bad news,” and our hearts will remain “firm, trusting in the Lord.”
Do any of the lines in this psalm fit someone you admire? Do any fit yourself? Which one do you wish to fit you?
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
REFLECTION:
The psalmist called God’s people to praise Him and declared that he would praise God publicly. He cited examples of God’s goodness and praised Him for His redemption and faithfulness.
God’s people should commit to memory the great characteristics and works of their God so they will remember to trust and obey Him. Try to memorize these 10 short verses and allow them to move you to praise God. As you review this psalm, you will be reminded that God has chosen to exercise His power to redeem and to care for you, His child.
How has God worked in your recent personal history? Can you think of any “works” you could remember? (v4)
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
