THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 4, 2014 - Day 113 - Psalm 114

Hallelujah! What happened to that declaration? It is a word that used to ring out from congregations across this world. The last time I heard it was years ago on a Wednesday night while I was repairing the phone line at a small all-black church in north St. Louis during their evening service. I suspect they still yell it out at that church but in my neighborhood the only time I hear it is when we sing Christmas hymns. It should not be that way.  

Psalm 113:1
Hallelujah! Give praise, servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord.

Psalm 113 begins with the word hallelujah and it ends with the word hallelujah. We are servants of the living God who sits high above us and deserves our praise. This is the first of a series of psalms called the Great Hallel. They are Israel’s chorus of hallelujahs. They were sung throughout the year and at all the annual feasts.

Psalm 113:2
Let the name of the Lord be praised both now and forever.

In the Old Testament the Jews revered God’s name. The greatness of God was revealed in the names He was called by. Take a moment to praise Him as you look at the list:

•El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)

•El Elyon (The Most High God)

•Adonai (Lord, Master)

•Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)

•Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)

•Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)

•Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)

•Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)

•Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)

•Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)

•El Olam (The Everlasting God)

•Elohim (God)

•Qanna (Jealous)

•Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)

•Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)

•Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)

And of course we cannot forget the name God told Moses to call Him by in Exodus 3:13-14

“Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!

We are to praise the name of God all day long. And why?

Psalm 113:4-6
The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

We praise Him for there is no other name by which we have life.

Psalm 113:7-8
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.

Jesus said this to the poor in Luke 6:20-21
“Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry now, because you will be filled.”

Then He said this to the rich in Luke 6:24-25
“But woe to you who are rich, because you have received your comfort. Woe to you who are full now, because you will be hungry.”

He would go on to warn the rich that it is hard for a rich man to receive eternal life for he tends to trust in his riches and in himself.

Psalm 113:9
He gives the childless woman a household, [making her] the joyful mother of children. Hallelujah!

God is the giver of all life. This is why we praise Him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. This is why we praise Him. His mercies are new every day and our salvation does not depend on our own righteousness. God loves us so much He sent Jesus to die for us and to those who by faith believe that receives the free gift of eternal life. This is why we praise Him day and night.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!