Exalting God: Praise, Humility, and Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: The Continuity of God's Redemptive Work

Psalm 113 is part of the Egyptian Hallel, a collection of psalms sung during Passover, which Jesus also sang with His disciples at the Last Supper. This connection highlights the continuity of God's redemptive work from the Exodus to the cross. The themes of deliverance and praise are woven throughout these psalms, reminding us of God's ongoing work in history and in our lives. As we reflect on this, we are invited to see our own stories as part of this grand narrative of redemption. [02:47]

Exodus 12:26-27 (ESV): "And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.' And the people bowed their heads and worshiped."

Reflection: How can you see God's redemptive work in your own life story, and how does this shape your understanding of His ongoing work in the world today?

Day 2: Unique Reasons for Praise

God's servants have unique reasons to praise Him, as they share in His work and are promised eternal rewards. This relationship with God enriches their lives, providing countless reasons for gratitude and worship. As we engage in God's work, we find our lives intertwined with His purposes, leading to a deeper sense of fulfillment and joy. This call to praise is not just a duty but a response to the abundant grace and blessings we receive as His servants. [06:23]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: What specific blessings or experiences in your life prompt you to praise God today, and how can you express this praise in your daily actions?

Day 3: God's Humility and Care

Despite His exalted position above all nations and creation, God humbles Himself to engage with humanity. This humility is a profound aspect of His character, demonstrating His love and care for each individual. God's willingness to stoop down and be involved in our lives is a testament to His compassion and desire for relationship with us. This aspect of God's nature invites us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He is both mighty and intimately concerned with our well-being. [13:25]

Philippians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God's humility and care in your life, and how does this influence your relationship with Him?

Day 4: Divine Elevation of the Humble

God lifts the lowly, transforming their circumstances and elevating them to positions of honor. This divine intervention is a testament to His power and compassion, offering hope to those in humble circumstances. The imagery of God raising the poor from the dust and seating them with princes is a powerful reminder of His ability to change lives and bring about justice. This aspect of God's character encourages us to trust in His timing and His plans for our lives, even when we feel overlooked or undervalued. [16:20]

1 Samuel 2:7-8 (ESV): "The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor."

Reflection: Who in your life might need encouragement or support today, and how can you be a vessel of God's love and elevation for them?

Day 5: Transformation from Disgrace to Honor

The psalm's imagery of the barren woman becoming a joyful mother illustrates God's ability to turn disgrace into honor. This transformation reflects His deep care for individuals and His power to change lives. In ancient times, barrenness was seen as a social stigma, yet God demonstrates His compassion by granting the barren woman a home and making her a joyful mother. This theme resonates with anyone who has experienced shame or rejection, offering hope that God can bring about restoration and joy. [21:59]

Isaiah 54:1 (ESV): "Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married, says the Lord."

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel a sense of disgrace or inadequacy? How can you invite God into that space to bring about transformation and honor?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 113 is a profound call to praise the Lord, emphasizing His majesty and His compassionate care for the lowly. This psalm marks the beginning of the Egyptian Hallel, a series of psalms traditionally sung during the Passover, which Jesus Himself sang with His disciples at the Last Supper. The psalm opens with a call to praise the Lord, highlighting the special reasons God's servants have to exalt Him. It underscores the importance of praising God's name, which represents His character and nature, from now and forevermore, from sunrise to sunset.

The psalmist provides compelling reasons for this continuous praise. God is exalted above all nations and His glory surpasses the heavens. Despite His greatness, He humbles Himself to observe the affairs of heaven and earth, demonstrating His care for creation and humanity. This humility is a profound aspect of God's character, as He stoops to lift the poor from the dust and the needy from the ash heap, seating them with princes. This imagery is a powerful reminder of God's transformative power and His ability to elevate the humble.

The psalm concludes with a vivid illustration of God's care: granting the barren woman a home and making her a joyful mother. This reflects God's ability to transform disgrace into honor, a theme that resonates deeply with the ancient context where barrenness was seen as a social stigma. The psalm ends as it begins, with a call to praise the Lord, encapsulating the circle of praise that should characterize our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. The Egyptian Hallel, including Psalm 113, was sung by Jesus at the Last Supper, connecting His sacrifice with the themes of deliverance and praise. This tradition underscores the continuity of God's redemptive work from the Exodus to the cross. [02:47]
2. God's servants have unique reasons to praise Him, as they share in His work and are promised eternal rewards. This relationship with God enriches their lives, providing countless reasons for gratitude and worship. [06:23]
3. Despite His exalted position above all nations and creation, God humbles Himself to engage with humanity. This humility is a profound aspect of His character, demonstrating His love and care for each individual. [13:25]
4. God lifts the lowly, transforming their circumstances and elevating them to positions of honor. This divine intervention is a testament to His power and compassion, offering hope to those in humble circumstances. [16:20]
5. The psalm's imagery of the barren woman becoming a joyful mother illustrates God's ability to turn disgrace into honor. This transformation reflects His deep care for individuals and His power to change lives. [21:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - Introduction to Psalm 113
[01:08] - The Egyptian Hallel and Passover
[02:30] - Jesus and the Last Supper
[03:36] - Singing Psalms at Passover
[05:07] - Call to Praise the Lord
[06:23] - Reasons for Servants to Praise
[07:44] - Eternal Praise for God's Name
[09:23] - Continual Praise from Sunrise to Sunset
[10:00] - God's Exaltation Above Nations
[12:16] - God's Incomparable Nature
[13:25] - God's Humility and Care
[15:06] - Lifting the Lowly
[19:38] - Transforming Disgrace into Honor
[24:26] - Psalm 113 and Jesus
[29:18] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Psalm 113

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 113
- Matthew 26:30
- Philippians 2:6-8

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Observation Questions:

What is the significance of Psalm 113 being part of the Egyptian Hallel, and how was it traditionally used during Passover? [01:25]
How does the psalmist describe God's character in Psalm 113, particularly in relation to His majesty and humility? [10:00]
What imagery does the psalmist use to illustrate God's care for the lowly, and how does this reflect His transformative power? [15:06]
How does the psalmist conclude Psalm 113, and what does this suggest about the nature of praise in the believer's life? [23:22]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the tradition of singing the Egyptian Hallel during Passover connect Jesus' sacrifice with the themes of deliverance and praise? [02:30]
In what ways does God's humility, as described in Psalm 113, challenge our understanding of His greatness and His relationship with humanity? [13:25]
How does the transformation of the barren woman into a joyful mother serve as a metaphor for God's ability to turn disgrace into honor? [21:59]
What does the psalmist's call to praise "from the rising of the sun to its going down" imply about the consistency and scope of our worship? [09:23]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on the tradition of Jesus singing the Egyptian Hallel at the Last Supper. How does this historical context deepen your understanding of the connection between the Old Testament and Jesus' sacrifice? [02:47]
Consider the ways in which you have experienced God's humility and care in your own life. How can you respond to this aspect of His character in your daily worship? [13:25]
Think of a time when you felt "in the dust" or "on the ash heap." How did you experience God's lifting power, and how can you share this testimony with others? [16:20]
The psalmist speaks of God's ability to transform disgrace into honor. Is there an area in your life where you need to trust God for such a transformation? How can you actively seek His intervention? [21:59]
How can you incorporate the practice of praising God "from the rising of the sun to its going down" into your daily routine? What specific steps can you take to make praise a continuous part of your life? [09:23]
Reflect on the promise of eternal rewards for God's servants. How does this promise motivate you to engage more deeply in God's work and share in His mission? [06:23]
Identify a person or group in your community who might be considered "lowly" or in need. How can you be an instrument of God's lifting power in their lives this week? [15:06]

Sermon Clips

Praise the lord and this is both a personal statement of praise, the unnamed author of psalm 113 is both praising the lord himself but it is also a declaration an encouragement for other people to do the same he's praising the lord and he wants you to praise the lord also. [00:05:37]

God's servants have the honor of sharing in his great work and they are promised eternal reward for that work now everyone has reason for praise, but I'm just going to suggest to you that the servants of the lord have many more reasons for praise we share in god's work. [00:06:23]

The unchanging god never becomes unworthy of our praise for the child of god who has open eyes, time only reveals more reasons to praise him, look I hope that's your testimony I have to admit it is my testimony that as the years go on I find more reasons to praise god not less. [00:08:43]

The lord is high above all nations, his glory above the heavens, who is like the lord our god who dwells on high, who humbles himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth. [00:10:03]

Brothers and sisters this is profound, verses 4 and 5 exalt god over all creation and then verse 6 tells us that this same god humbles himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth, when we understand the greatness of god then his interest and care for creation especially for us mankind it's remarkable. [00:13:25]

He raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the ash sheep that he may seat him with princes with the princes of his people, he grants the barren woman a home like a joyful mother of children, praise the lord now look at the humble care that god gives for the lowly. [00:15:06]

When no hand but his can help he interposes and the work is done it is worthwhile to be cast down to be so divinely raised from the dust you see purge spurgeon put it in this beautiful perspective, he said it's worth it to be in the dust if god will raise you up so wonderfully. [00:16:20]

The psalmist sees god's humble care for humanity by lifting people up from the low place and seating them at the exalted place and this is beautifully fulfilled not only you would say most perfectly in what god did in and through jesus the messiah but also in a like fashion what he does in and through his people on the basis of the new covenant. [00:19:38]

The afflicted man will receive recognition that's being lifted up with the princes and the oppressed woman will receive honor in being a woman in the ancient near east and especially in israel motherhood was a crowning achievement of any woman a barren woman was a social outcast. [00:21:59]

The great exalted god the one who is above all nations and all creation he cares about us individually he cares about the woman who bears the pain and in the ancient world even the disgrace of not being able to bear children it's amazing isn't it this great majestic god we serve. [00:22:59]

The music concludes upon its keynote the psalm is a circle ending where it began praising the lord from its first syllable to its last may our life psalm partake of the same character and never know a break or conclusion in an endless circle let us bless the lord whose mercies never cease. [00:24:26]

Jesus is the perfect expression of god humbling himself you remember that great statement back in verse 6 it says this who humbles himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and the earth you see philippians chapter 2 verses 6 through 8 says it very powerfully of jesus. [00:25:44]

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Exalting God: Praise, Humility, and Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: The Continuity of God's Redemptive Work

Day 2: Unique Reasons for Praise

Day 3: God's Humility and Care

Day 4: Divine Elevation of the Humble

Day 5: Transformation from Disgrace to Honor

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Exalting God: Praise, Humility, and Transformation

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