God Promises Your Eternal Hallelujah

Psalm 113:1 Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, 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 their people. 9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.
 
GOD’s saving mercy is the reason for this praise psalm. The Jews had returned from the Babylon exile. Ezra 7 and Nehemiah ­9 record a wonderful revival as the Jews’ honor God’s law and his merciful provision to save them from exile. The law was read and choirs sang of God’s great power to rebuke, teach, lead and save his people. Praise the LORD.
   In Hebrew, “Praise the LORD.” in verses 1 and 9 are written “hallelu jah!” The word “hallēlu” means a joyous praise in song. “Jah”, is a shortened form of Yahweh – the self-existent, eternal, Creator.
“Hallelujah!” glorifies God and confesses your absolute joy.
   Who shouts, “Hallelujah”? You do: V 1b Servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. When do you praise him? V 2b both now and forevermore. You praise him each day: V 3  From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.
   Who is the LORD you praise? He is exalted: V 4a The LORD is exalted over all the nations. God is above all earthly rulers. His power and beauty are greater than all things. Your praise will honor him to make his gracious name known to the world: v 4b his glory above the heavens. The LORD is alone in his majesty: v 5 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high. The LORD monitors his creation. He is even willing to stoop to forgive an adulterous woman (John 8) and to wash his disciples’ filthy feet. (John 13): v 6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth.
   The LORD is a merciful helper, kind to draw us to himself. He draws the poorest and weakest of the world into his sanctuary of eternal promise: V 7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. Hallelujah! God brings his own unto himself: V 8 he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. Our LORD is a husband to his people: V 9a He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. God has filled the empty wombs of Sarah (Isaac), Rachel (Joseph), Hannah (Samuel), Elizabeth (John the Baptizer) and others to advance his salvation message to you.
   What is your response to God’s merciful salvation? It seems the most difficult question for Christians to answer is, “What are your praises to God today?” Silence is often the response. Is it so difficult to consider God’s mercy to deliver you from sin’s exile? Do you think such a praise is self-righteous? But consider this. When you exclaim, “Praise the LORD, he has saved me!” you tell others not of yourself but of God.
   What will you say the next time someone asks, “What are your praises to God today?” How about “Hallelujah! God has saved me.”