Who Is Like the Lord?

Psalm 113

Reprinted from Today in the Word

Ready for some praise? Psalm 113 opens with a rousing call to praise God “from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets” (v. 3). Should the Lord be praised in Philistia? Yes, even in Philistia. Should the Lord be praised in Egypt? Yes, in Egypt. Should the Lord be praised in Iowa? Brazil? Bangladesh? Yes, from the east to the west!

The Lord is worthy of worship from all people because there is no one like Him (v. 5). One of things that makes God so unique is that even though He is more powerful and exulted than anyone in the universe, “he raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap” (v. 7). He cares deeply about people that we are often quick to ignore. The powerless and broken are especially noticed by Him.

Psalm 113 begins a series of psalms that are traditionally used at Passover to celebrate Israel’s exodus from Egypt. It is likely that Jesus and His disciples sang Psalms 113–118 as a part of the Last Supper (Matt. 26:30). God heard the cries of His people and delivered them. He humbled Pharaoh and made the needy rejoice.

This theme comes to its fulfillment in the gospel. The apostle Paul said, “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:26–27). If God notices the weak and vulnerable, that is a perspective that we should have as well. Praise God today for His provision and care!

Today’s Psalm provides another fun activity you can try. Take a roam around the house or the neighborhood, asking in each location if God should be praised. “Should God be praised in the kitchen?” “Should God be praised in the den?” Yes!

Wherever we are—the verdant Appalachians, the great Midwestern plains, the majestic Sierra Nevada—nature praises You, the Creator. We lift our voices with the hills, proclaiming Your greatness.