Click here to read PSALM 113 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 113 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Psalm 113 declares the Messiah’s heavenly authority from God that will be used to minister and serve God’s people.
Psalm 113 is the first of six “Hallel” (praise) Psalms (113-118). They were an important part of the Passover meal ceremony. Psalms 113 and 114 were sung before the meal after two cups of wine had been drunk. Then Psalms 115-118 were sung.
Structure
(Verse 1-3) Praise the Lord (Hallelu-jah) and bless His name
(Verses 4,5) The Lord’s heavenly standing and authority (given to the Messiah)
(Verses 6-9) The Lord’s care for His people on earth (in the Messiah’s ministry)
(Verse 9) Praise the Lord (Hallelu-jah)
Key Scriptures
Verse 7—“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill.” Biblically, the word “poor” often means those who are humble and receptive to God and His Word.
Jesus explained this in opening his new message to Israel in Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit [humble in pride]: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
There were those who were physically poor and destitute in Jesus’ time, and he encouraged his disciples to do good to them. But they were to first keep their spiritual focus on doing God’s will, which included keeping Jesus Christ at the center of their lives. Mark 14:7: “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.”
Jesus’ mission and ministry was first to preach the good news to the humble, the “poor.” Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor….”
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
