LOST FOR WORDS
Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank you for the witness you bear through Scripture and for using it to draw me to my Savior, Jesus.
Read PSALM 113
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
1 Praise the Lord.[a]
Praise the Lord, you his servants;
praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
Footnotes
- Psalm 113:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 9
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
If there is anything worrying you today, consciously lay it at the cross before you turn to the Scriptures.This psalm is divided into three parts. In the first (vv. 1–3), we focus on the greatness, the vastness, the majesty, the impossible-to- describeness of God! We lift our eyes and catch a glimpse of just how amazing he is and find ourselves joining the psalmist in praise.
Lost for words, the psalmist sought comparisons (vv. 4–6), but found that there were none. It’s very hard to say ‘God is like…’ when actually he is in a completely different league from anything else in our experience.
In the final part of the psalm (vv. 7–9), the psalmist gave examples of how this same incredible God deals with individuals. He didn’t show preference as the world would, but raised up those in need. Verse 9 really struck me, as I married and had children later than most. Reminiscing about that, I began to recall time after time when God brought the miracles I needed: a job, an opportunity, a contact, even cash in the mail! It is utterly mind-blowing to think that the Lord of all would care about my problem; that the King of Kings knows each one of us so well that he can meet our personal precise need.
Apply
Think of a time when the Lord answered your prayers and intervened in your life. Remember how it felt to know that the God of the universe cares for you. Thank him again.
Closing prayer
Creator and Sustainer of all things, thank you that you not only keep my life—you bless me with the riches of your abundant love.
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