INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 113 With this psalm begins the great "Hallel", which ends with Psalm 118; and was used to be sung at the Jewish festivals, particularly at the feast of tabernacles and of the passover; and is thought by some to be the hymn sung by Christ and his apostles, after the celebration... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAISE YE THE LORD,.... Or, "hallelujah". This is the title of the psalm, as in the two preceding, and directs to the principal matter of it. PRAISE, O YE SERVANTS OF THE LORD; meaning not the angels, nor all men, nor the priests and Levites only; but all the saints, who are a holy priesthood, to o... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD,.... Some prefix the word "saying", as directing to the matter and manner of praising the Lord, and to express themselves thus; "let the name of the Lord be blessed"; honoured, glorified, spoken well of. FROM THIS TIME FORTH AND FOR EVERMORE; from the beginning of ti... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN UNTO THE GOING DOWN OF THE SAME,.... Meaning not from morning tonight; for it designs not time, but place, even all the space from east to west, or that lies between the rising and setting sun; even all nations, and the inhabitants of them; and who ought to praise the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS,.... He is the most High in all the earth; he is higher than the highest; he is King of kings and Lord of lords: all nations are made by him, and are under his government and dominion; he is the Governor among the nations; they are in comparison of him as the drop... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS LIKE UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD,.... Among the gods of the nations, as Kimchi; or among the angels of heaven, or among any of the mighty monarchs on earth; there is none like him for the perfections of his nature, for his wisdom, power, truth, and faithfulness; for his holiness, justice, goodness,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HUMBLETH HIMSELF TO BEHOLD THE THINGS THAT ARE IN HEAVEN, AND IN THE EARTH. The persons the highest heavens, the angels whom he upholds in their beings, and admits into his presence; who always behold his face, and he beholds them, delights in their persons, and accepts their services; which, th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RAISETH UP THE POOR OUT OF THE DUST,.... Persons of mean extraction and in low life are sometimes raised by him to great honour and dignity, as Saul, David, and others; and is true of many who are spiritually poor and needy, as all men are, but all are not sensible of it; some are, and these are... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE MAY SET [HIM] WITH PRINCES,.... As all the saints are by birth, being the sons of God, the King of kings; born of him, and not of the will of man; and are of a princely spirit, have a free spirit, and offer themselves and services willingly to the Lord; have the spirit of adoption, in opposi... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MAKETH THE BARREN WOMAN TO KEEP HOUSE,.... Or "to dwell in the house", as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and other versions; or rather "to cause the house to be inhabited"; to fill the house with inhabitants, to build up the house, as the barren woman, when made fruitful, does, as Rachel and Leah... [ Continue Reading ]