Psalms Reading – 4.15.2022
Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 114
1 When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.
Psalms 113-118 became a part of the Jewish Passover liturgy, celebrating their escape from Egypt. The hymn that Jesus and the disciples sang after the Lord’s Supper could have been one of these.
Psalm 113 offers praise for the Lord’s character and nature. He is to be praised at all times and in all places. “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets” is a phrase used in ancient literature to speak of universal dominion.
The reason for such high praise is because the Lord is transcendent, His authority rises far above all creation and nations. He is separate and distinct from creation because He is its maker and sustainer.
In fact, the question is asked, Who is like our God? There is no one who compares to His unique sovereign rule. But then, we’re given more. Our God is not only transcendent, holy and exalted over all. He is, also, immanent. He is ever so near to His creation.
He deeply loves and cares for us and lifts the poor and needy up and out of the rubble. He reverses the injustices done and elevates them to high and honored places. This is the amazing nature of God who towers above all but stoops down to lift us up. This was made most evident on the cross which we solemnly remember on this Good Friday. May His name be praised.
Psalm 114 builds on Psalm 113 declaring that all the earth trembles before Him as an awestruck worshiper. The earth is personified as a model worshiper, obeying His every command. The seeming impossible, like water from a rock, became possible at the word of the Lord. May we join all creation in offering our praise to the Lord who rules over all yet has come down to personally offer us His love.
Memory Verse: Psalm 115:1, Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Question(s) to Consider: What about these two psalms inspire praise within you? What specific praise will you offer Jesus for His death upon the cross?