Psalm 113 | The Length Of God’s Love

About this Episode

Preacher: Joel Fair
Scripture: Psalm 113

1. PRAISE THE LORD - VS 1-3
2. THE HEIGHT OF GOD'S THRONE - VS 4-6
3. HANNAH'S SONG - VS 7-9

"This is both the last of a trio starting, “Praise the LORD!” (Hallelujah!), and also the first in the Egyptian Hallel. It is an exquisite and quite complex piece of Hebrew poetry, presenting “a theology of wonder which speaks of a God whose greatness goes hand in hand with his compassion for those most at risk in life.”

• Geoffrey W. Grogan, Psalms, The Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary

"A short run of psalms used at the yearly Passover begins here, and is therefore commonly known as the Egyptian Hallel (Hallel means Praise). Only the second of them (114) speaks directly of the exodus, but the theme of raising the downtrodden (113) and the note of corporate praise (115), personal thanksgiving (116), world vision (117) and festal procession (118) make it an appropriate series to mark the salvation which began in Egypt and will spread to the nations."

• Derek Kidner, Psalms 73–150 - Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries

"In these calls to praise there is more than mere repetition. There is point in specifying the Lord’s servants and his name, since worship to be acceptable must be more than flattery and more than guess-work. It is the loving homage of the committed to the Revealed."

• Derek Kidner

“And his glory above the heavens:” higher than the loftiest part of creation; the clouds are the dust of his feet, and sun, moon, and stars twinkle far below his throne. Even the heaven of heavens cannot contain him. His glory cannot be set forth by the whole visible universe, nor even by the solemn pomp of angelic armies; it is above all conception and imagination, for he is God—infinite. Let us above all adore him who is above all.

• C. H. Spurgeon - The Treasury of David

"The importance of large families in ancient Israel encouraged the belief that a barren wife was cursed by God; cf. Gen 16:4 f.; 1 Sam 1:5 f., 2:5; Luke 1:25."

• Mitchell Dahood - Psalms III: 101-150 - Anchor Yale Bible

1 Samuel 1:11 (ESV)
11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:15–18a (ESV)
15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.
16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”
17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”
18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.”

Ephesians 2:1–2 (ESV)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Ephesians 2:4–7 (ESV)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:17–19 (ESV)
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.