The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 113:1-3,
"Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, you his servants;
praise the name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised."
This psalm begins with a call to praise the Lord. It also ends with the same: "Praise the Lord." Verse 9b. In 9 short verses the psalmist calls us to praise the Lord 6 times.
As the psalmist himself praises the Lord within this psalm, it is no mere "empty praise", but praise based on who the Lord is and what he does. The Lord is "exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens", verse 4. He is transcendent and yet reaches down to us, "Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?" Verses 5-6. The Lord meets the needs of the poor and needy and the barren, "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children." Verses 7-9.
"Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, you his servants;
praise the name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised."
This psalm begins with a call to praise the Lord. It also ends with the same: "Praise the Lord." Verse 9b. In 9 short verses the psalmist calls us to praise the Lord 6 times.
As the psalmist himself praises the Lord within this psalm, it is no mere "empty praise", but praise based on who the Lord is and what he does. The Lord is "exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens", verse 4. He is transcendent and yet reaches down to us, "Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?" Verses 5-6. The Lord meets the needs of the poor and needy and the barren, "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children." Verses 7-9.
How can you not praise our Lord in view of his magnificent qualities and the wonderful things he does?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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