Psalm 113, Verse by Verse

Preparing for the Second Sunday after Pentecost: Two Days before Sunday (Year B)

Scripture

1 Samuel 2:1-10; Psalm 113; Romans 12:9-16b; Luke 1:39-57

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Prayer

Blessed God, who danced in our hearts, filling us with the knowledge of your presence: let your proclamation sing forth from us as it sang from the lips of Hannah and Elizabeth, announcing the coming of your promise and the fulfillment of your desire. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

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Reflection

Praise the Lord!

Praise, O servants of the Lord;

    praise the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

    from this time on and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to its setting,

    the name of the Lord is to be praised.

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?

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.

He gives the barren woman a home,

    making her the joyous mother of children.

Praise the Lord! (Psalm 113).

Psalm 113 is a hymn of praise to the Lord, emphasizing God’s majesty and care for the humble.

Verse 1: Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.

This opening verse is a call to worship. The psalmist urges the servants of the Lord, possibly referring to the faithful or those dedicated to God’s service, to praise the name of the Lord. The repetition emphasizes the importance and intensity of this praise.