Psalm 113 (CEV)
The Lord Helps People in Need
113 Shout praises to the Lord!
Everyone who serves him,
come and praise his name.
2 Let the name of the Lord
be praised now and forever.
3 From dawn until sunset
the name of the Lord
deserves to be praised.
4 The Lord is far above
all of the nations;
he is more glorious
than the heavens.
5 No one can compare
with the Lord our God.
His throne is high above,
6 and he looks down to see
the heavens and the earth.
7 God lifts the poor and needy
from dust and ashes,
8 and he lets them take part
in ruling his people.
9 When a wife has no children,
he blesses her with some,
and she is happy.
Shout praises to the Lord!
We might be less than good at helping the needy. But we find here that God needs them, God uses them, God lifts them.
However joyful this Psalm seems, praising God is not just about being happy and singing lovely songs. We can’t read it in isolation. It’s not about ignoring what is going on around us. We praise God as much with our actions. It is joining with him, working for others, that they are lifted from their despair.
Is that the kind of worship we can take part in?
