Psalm 113 - From the rising of the sun

Jump to end of psalm
1) Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord;
praise the name of the Lord.

2) Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time on 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!
Psalm 113
Proper 20, Sunday between September 18 and September 24, Year C

Blessed be the name of the Lord from now until forever. That's a lot of blessing.

Some will know this psalm from the song, popular in evangelical churches:
     From the rising of the sun,
     Until the going down of the same;
     He's worthy, yes God is worthy,
     He's worthy to be praised.
God is worthy to be praised, however God is named.

This hymn is praise-focused. Praise is pretty close to emotion, in the sense that it just is, praise doesn't have to be explained.

Praise is not rootless, though. Praise has an object, something, someone which is being praised. And there are explanations, both explicit and unvoiced. The reasons for praise are often the "stuff" of praise.

The Lord is above all others, above the heavens. The Lord lifts the poor up from the dust, and brings the needy to a place of satisfaction. The Lord answers prayers, bringing forth life what seemed barren.

From ashes to a royal table, from emptiness to a home filled with joy.

Praise the Lord!

It is good to be a servant of this Lord. We can praise God's goodness from sunrise to sunset, and maybe evening hours as well. There is no time we cannot know and express our appreciation - for the Lord is on duty 24x7, always.

Credits:
jimnista, Sunset Beach Eclipse May 20th 2012, Huntington Beach, CA. Used under (CC BY 2.0).
* New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV), copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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