Salmos 113
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 113:1-4
113:1 This verse has the same IMPERATIVE repeated three times for emphasis (BDB 237, KB 248, Piel IMPERATIVE; see same technique in Ps. 96:1-2). It starts out like Psalms 111; 112 (see note at Ps. 111:1). This Psalm reveals why YHWH should be praised. He is above all nations, Ps. 113:4 His glory is above the heavens, Ps. 113:4 he is unique (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM), Ps. 113:5 He humbles Himself to know and be involved in the lives of His faithful followers, Ps. 113:6 (cf. Ps. 18:35c) He cares for those who are socially ostracized and who have no power, Ps. 113:7-9 (cf. Ps. 109:31) the poor the needy the barren ▣ "the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "O servants of the Lord" The AB (p. 131) changes the vowels and makes this "the works of the Lord." This form (BDB 714) is found in Eccl. 9:1. If the MT is correct, "servants" would refer to angels (cf. Ps. 103:20-22; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENLY COUNCIL OF ANGELS) worshipers in the temple (cf. Deut. 32:43; Ps. 34:22; 69:36; 105:25; 135:14) Levites/priests in the temple (cf. Ps. 134:1; 135:1-2) ▣ "the name of the Lord See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH. 113:2 "Blessed be the name of the Lord" This VERB (BDB 138, KB 159, Pual PARTICIPLE combined with the JUSSIVE form of the VERB "to be") is parallel to "praise" (cf. Ps. 145:21). SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH 113:2b-3a These two lines are parallel and in figurative language to express the extent of the praise of YHWH for all time, Ps. 113:2b (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ['olam]) in all places, Ps. 113:3a 113:4 "high above all nations" This verse tells why He should be praised. He is high above all nations (cf. Ps. 97:9; 99:2) His glory is above the heavens (cf. Ps. 8:1; 57:11; 148:13) SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN ▣ "glory" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (DOXA).
Salmos 113:5-9
113:5 "Who is like the Lord our God" Notice both YHWH and Elohim are used for the Deity of Israel. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D. ▣ "Who is enthroned on high" This is parallel to Ps. 113:4b. It is an idiom of kingship (cf. Ps. 103:19). YHWH is king (note 1 Sam. 8:7). The ancient Israelites viewed their God as sitting on His throne above the atmosphere of the earth with His feet resting (i.e., footstool) on the ark of the covenant. The ark's lid was where heaven and earth symbolically met! SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN AND THE THIRD HEAVEN 113:6 NASB, NKJV "Who humbles Himself" "who looks far down" TEV, NET "he bends down to see" "he stoops to look down" "see what is below" "deigns to look down so low" "looks upon that which is lowly" This unusual phrase denotes that YHWH knows what is happening on earth, especially to His people (cf. Exod. 3:7-8; Ps. 138:6a,b). The LXX translates this verse as YHWH looking on the "lowly" (i.e., humans). The Peshitta translates it as "the deep" and makes it one of three levels of this planet. atmosphere land water (the deep) ▣ "in heaven and in the earth" This is speaking of this planet and its atmosphere. SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN 113:9a,b All of the wives of the early Patriarchs were barren, but YHWH opened their wombs. Sarah ‒ Gen. 21:6 Rebekah ‒ Gen. 25:21 Rachel ‒ Gen. 30:22-23 However, a child was a special act of YHWH to show His care His power His plan for Israel and the whole world (cf. Ps. 113:4) SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 113:9c The Psalm ends as it began. Some scholars see this line as the beginning of the next Psalm (LXX). This phrase is the introduction to Psalms 111; 112; 113.