“In loftiest songs of sweetest praise, We would to everlasting days, Make all His glories known.” —S. Medley
The next six psalms (113-118) are treated almost as one by the Jewish people, called the Egyptian Hallel (from halal, “praise”). This name is derived from the beginning of Psalm 114, “When Israel went out of Egypt.” Alfred Edersheim says that this collection, a kind of mini-hymnbook, was sung in Jewish homes on the Passover night. But it was also included on several special days of the year: on the New Moons, the Feast of Pentecost, each day of the 8-day Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Dedication. Psalm 113 is built on the number 3. The psalm divides evenly into three parts of three verses each. First the author gives us the invitation to unite in praise (vv 1-3), beginning with three calls: “Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord!” (v 1). He invites us to fill all of time with His praises. “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!” (v 2). There aren’t enough days in all of time, he suggests, so the praise must overflow into eternity. What about hours in the day? “From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised” (v 3). I’ll let you in on a secret—the sun never goes down! It just appears elsewhere to call those on the other side of the planet to take up the song. We then have the location of the One to praise (vv 4-6). Where is He? “High above all nations,… above the heavens” (v 4). In fact, He “humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens” (v 6). So is He out of reach? No, because “He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes” (vv 7-8). Isn’t that amazing! He makes special time for busy mothers and their babies, too (v 9). What a God to praise!