◄ What Does Psalm 113:3 Mean? ►

From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the LORD is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3(NASB)

Verse of the Day

"Praise the Lord!" are the opening words of this magnificent psalm: "Praise Him, O servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore." Verse 3 continues with an important affirmation that the Lord is worthy of sustained, universal, and never-ending praise: "From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised."

This psalm is a great call to commend the Lord for His great and majestic glory, for He is the Most High God Who is worthy of all our adoration. This is the God of Israel Who rescued His people out of the land of bondage in a most spectacular way, and He is above all. It is one of a number of 'Hallel' psalms, or 'Praise' psalms because the people of Israel would sing it together at particular times of the year, to commemorate times of special deliverance. Psalm 113 is the first in this collection of worship songs.

'Hallel' is a short form of the Hebrew word 'Hallelujah' and is a call to all the people to praise and worship the Lord our God for His goodness, grace, mercy, and His plan of redemption. Psalms 113 to 118 have been titled the 'Egyptian Hallel' because they particularly celebrate Israel's deliverance from their 400 years of enslavement in Egypt, when the angel of death passed over the dwellings of the Israelites whose door portals had been smeared with the blood of a sacrificial lamb. This group of psalms would be sung during the annual, Passover celebrations.

Some ascribe this psalm to Moses because it focuses on Israel's deliverance from Egyptian slavery, but others believe the writer was David as he reflected on Israel's redemption and remembered how God rescued His chosen nation from centuries of bondage. No matter who wrote this song, the psalmist clearly wanted to encourage his countrymen to remember their redemption and rejoice in the God of their salvation.

The Passover was one of the seven feasts of the Lord that were given to Israel, and God required the people to celebrate at the appointed season so that they would not forget their great deliverance from their Egyptian shackles. And for centuries that followed, the nation of Israel would look back to the first Passover lambs which was a type of the One, True, Unique Passover Lamb - the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, the Sacrificial Lamb Who is worthy of all honour, glory, might, majesty, dominion, and power, both now and throughout the eternal ages to come.

We read in both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, that after Jesus had celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples, they all sang a hymn before leaving to go to the Mount of Olives. Psalms 113 and 114 were the two psalms that were usually sung before partaking of the Passover, while Psalms 115 to 118 were generally sung after the meal.

It is astonishing to realise that during the Passover meal, the Last Supper which He shared with His disciples the night before the crucifixion, that the Lord Jesus and His apostles must have rehearsed these well-loved verses together before they left for Gethsemane and the Crosss of Calvary.

And for us, we praise the Lord for His great and majestic glory, for He is the Most High Who is worthy of all our adoration. His name is exalted in all the earth, and His glory is unshakable. But He is not a God Who is unapproachable and aloof. He is not a God Who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities because He became a man and was tried and tested throughout His life just as we are - yet He lived a sinless life.

He is the God of Israel, our Kinsman-Redeemer, and He is above all. And from the rising of the sun to its setting His name should be exalted. His mercy and grace is unending and He gives strength to the weak. His goodness is on display in His willingness to lift up the needy and bring them to a place of honour, and as His children we should commit ourselves to glorifying Him in all we say and do.

How amazing to realise that we who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ are members of His Body and have been born again into the family of God. How this should rejoice our hearts!

How blessed we are to be part of His kingdom, and may His name be praised forevermore! May we serve the Lord willingly, with hearts full of admiration and joy. May we ascribe to Him all honour and glory, for His love and grace are never-ending. He is the God of all comfort and blessing, and He will never leave us nor forsake us. Our souls should be filled with joy and gratitude as we seek to glorify His name. May we lift our voices in praise to the Lord, for His mercies are new every morning, for He is forever faithful and His love endures forever.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, I come to You in praise and adoration. You are worthy of all glory, honour, and praise, from the rising of the sun to its setting. How great You are, Lord! You lift up the needy from their low estate. You are the God of Israel, and You are faithful to all generations. I bless Your name, now and forevermore. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. May I serve You willingly, rejoicing in Your goodness and love. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.