Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 113

by Don R. Hender

It should be here noted that the hallelujah hymn of the Sadar Last Super meal of the Lord which was there sung is that which consists of Psalms 113-118.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

CHAPTER 113
Blessed be the name of the Lord—Who is like unto the Lord!?!

1 PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.

4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the LORD our God^a, who dwelleth on high,
6 **Who ^ahumbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth^a![!?!]

5^a Who is like unto the LORD our God This is asking an exclamatory question. While the exclamation is preserved in the final puctuation of the next verse which actually ends the sentence, it ought to include a question mark (?) with the exclamation point or even a combination of a question mark bookended with two exclamation points (!?!) to truely represent the intent and the meaning of the exclamatory question. True it is an exclamatory question which anticipates that there will be nor can there be any such answer to the question, but surely the question is not to be totally ignored in its asking form.
6^a Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth Perhaps the pointed intent of the parallel inclusion directed to the 'humbling' of the Lord is a bit muddled by the translator's included italic clarifications. While these italic clarifications do add some points of meaning, it is well to first read the statement in its simple paralleled form without them, and that is, 'Who humbleth to behold in heaven and in the earth.'** In 'heaven' as the God of Creation, he was selected to be also He upon whom the 'redemption' of that creation was laid. He was not only to come to earth to obtain his body, gain experience and work out his own personal salvation, but He was to come to earth to descend below all things; to perform the untimate, eternal, infinite and divine atonement for the cause of atoning for and and rectifying the fall of man into this Second Estate of temporay mortality of this natural and carnal realm. This humbling of himself in heaven before the Father to place himself to be subject to the total mind and will of the Father in all things to the extent of the redemption of the world and then the actual act of that condensation upon the earth, is what does allow our Lord and King to be raised above all things in the heavens and the eternity to come.

7 He ^araiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the ^abarren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful ^bmother of ^cchildren. Praise ye the LORD.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 113 Blessed be the name of the Lord—Who is like unto the Lord!?!
1 PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. 3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like unto the LORD our God^a, who dwelleth on high, 6 *Who ^ahumbleth himself* to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth^a![!?!**]	5^a Who is like unto the LORD our God This is asking an exclamatory question. While the exclamation is preserved in the final puctuation of the next verse which actually ends the sentence, it ought to include a question mark (?) with the exclamation point or even a combination of a question mark bookended with two exclamation points (!?!) to truely represent the intent and the meaning of the exclamatory question. True it is an exclamatory question which anticipates that there will be nor can there be any such answer to the question, but surely the question is not to be totally ignored in its asking form. *6^a Who humbleth himself* to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth Perhaps the pointed intent of the parallel inclusion directed to the 'humbling' of the Lord is a bit muddled by the translator's included italic clarifications. While these italic clarifications do add some points of meaning, it is well to first read the statement in its simple paralleled form without them, and that is, 'Who humbleth to behold in heaven and in the earth.'** In 'heaven' as the God of Creation, he was selected to be also He upon whom the 'redemption' of that creation was laid. He was not only to come to earth to obtain his body, gain experience and work out his own personal salvation, but He was to come to earth to descend below all things; to perform the untimate, eternal, infinite and divine atonement for the cause of atoning for and and rectifying the fall of man into this Second Estate of temporay mortality of this natural and carnal realm. This humbling of himself in heaven before the Father to place himself to be subject to the total mind and will of the Father in all things to the extent of the redemption of the world and then the actual act of that condensation upon the earth, is what does allow our Lord and King to be raised above all things in the heavens and the eternity to come.
7 He ^araiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; 8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. 9 He maketh the ^abarren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful ^bmother of ^cchildren. Praise ye the LORD.