## Why Praise Him?

## Psalm 113:1-9

Psalms 113-118 comprise the first of what are known as the "Hallel Psalms". The word "Hallel" simply means "To Praise." This group of Psalms were sung as part of Jewish worship. This morning I want us to consider the first of these praise psalms.

The first three verses of this Psalm stand as a call and a challenge for the people of the Lord to be involved in His praise. The rest of the Psalm tells us why we should praise the Lord.

1. The command to Praise God v1

Ps 113:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

2. An example of Praise To God. v2a

Ps 113:2-3 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.

3. The Practice Of Praise To The Lord. V2b-3

a. The Psalmist tells us that God is to be praised "from this time forth and for evermore."

b. This is a hint of what the redeemed will be doing throughout eternity.

c. We are told that in heaven the 24 Elders (which represents the redeemed) will cry out for ever and ever:

Re 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

d. Verse 3 tells us that every waking moment is to be spent in the praise of the Lord.

e. In other words, praise is not supposed to be something we do "when feel like it"...

f. Praise is supposed to be something that we are engaged in at all times.

g. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to "do it" like anyone else "does it".

h. When we praise God from our hearts, it is pleasing unto Him!

In the remaining verses of this Psalm, we are given some reasons why we are to be involved in this matter of praise. It is those reasons that I want us to focus in on this morning.

I. Because Of His Glory…Praise Him

Ps 113:4-6 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

A. He Is Exalted v4

1. God is greater than all the glory of the nations.

2. He is greater than all the glories of Heaven.

3. When the nations are gone and this earth has passed away, His praises will be heard in Heaven throughout eternity!

4. He is exalted above all!

B. He Is Exceptional v5

1. There is none like Him!

2. Where are the dead and forgotten gods of Egypt, Greece and Rome?

3. They are all gone away to ash heap of forgetfulness.

4. One day all other false deities and exalted persons will fade from memory.

5. If all the greatest examples of human accomplishments were paraded across the stage of time, none of them could compare to our great God.

6. No, there is none like the Lord! He is beyond our comprehension!

C. He Is Extraordinary v6

1. It is amazing that a God like ours would even condescend to look into the things that take place upon the earth.

2. Yet, His eye is on the sparrow and the very hairs of our heads are numbered!

3. Surely, His glory is a constant theme for praise!

II. Because Of His Grace…Praise Him

Ps 113:7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

A. The Grace Of His Reaching Down

1. It is implied in this verse that God reaches down to us.

2. If it is amazing that He should "look" upon the earth, how much more amazing that He would reach into the mess of this world to lift us out!

3. But, even more amazing is the fact that He would come down to this world to rescue us from our sins.

4. Note: Phil. 2:5-8.

5. Why? There was just one reason!

Lu 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Mr 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

B. The Grace Of His Raising Up

1. He lifts up the needy.

2. Why, because they cannot lift themselves out of their natural condition.

Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

3. That is why He came and died!

4. He paid our price and will lift all who will believe in Him out of the dust of the earth and will set them in high places.

1Pe 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

III. Because Of His Greatness…Praise Him

A. He Cancels Our Pasts v8

1. He takes the worst of humanity and uses them greatly.

2. He took Gideon from the threshing floor; Saul from following the donkeys; David from leading he sheep; the Apostles from the fish; us from our deadness in sin.

3. He takes us like He finds us and then He transforms us into a trophy of His grace.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

4. He doesn't lift us out half way and then leave us to finish the job.

5. He changes us all the way!

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

B. He Conquers Our Problems v9

1. Here, the image of a childless woman is used to illustrate despair and distress.

2. The Bible is filled with this image, and we see how the Lord took some ladies who were barren, opened their wombs and blessed them with children, Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, etc.

3. So what does this mean to us this morning?

4. He can take the barrenness of our lives, that has been caused by sin and He can cause us to bring forth fruit for His glory.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

5. A life without God is empty and barren, but a life touched by the Lord is fruitful and glorious!

6. The fact that He would lift us up out of our wretched condition and then use us for His glory is a wonderful thing!

7. His Glory, His Grace and His Goodness make Him worthy of our praise!

Isn't He worthy of our praise? Is He getting the praise He deserves from your life? I am not talking about just the praise of our lips on Sunday mornings when we sing of His goodness and grace, but do our lives praise Him? He is worthy and He deserves all the praise we can give Him!

Perhaps this morning God has revealed the emptiness of your life. We can try to fill that void with all sorts of things, but only Jesus Christ can truly fill it. Why not come today and let God have His rightful place in your life. If you have never trusted Him for salvation, come now. If you have allowed other things to get in the way, come now and let Jesus be the Lord of your life.