Psalm 113: Who Is Like the LORD Our God?
The Hallel begins: high above, stooping low
"Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens."
"Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD."
From the dunghill to the princes
The dunghill ('ashpot) outside a town was where the destitute begged and slept. The reversal, from dust to princes, quotes Hannah's song (1 Samuel 2:8); the childless woman becoming a mother recalls Hannah, Sarah and Rachel. Mary's song (Luke 1:46–55) continues the tradition.
The Hallel
Psalms 113–118 form the "Egyptian Hallel," sung at Passover and the other pilgrim festivals. The Mishnah (Pesahim 10:6–7) describes the Hallel at the Passover meal, part before and part after the meal; "when they had sung an hymn" at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26) most likely refers to it. Psalm 113 has no heading but "Hallelujah"; Greek and Latin number it 112 (Vulgate "Laudate, pueri, Dominum"). Settings of "Laudate pueri" by Monteverdi, Vivaldi and Mozart come from its Latin.
What the evidence shows
- 113:7–8 quotes Hannah's song (1 Samuel 2:8).
- Psalms 113–118 form the Hallel sung at Passover.
Continue the journey
Connected elsewhere in ScriptureHannah's Song and Eli's Sons1 Samuel 2:8: "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust."More from this lesson
Why this matters to the rest of Scripture
- "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust."
- "He hath put down the mighty… exalted them of low degree."