I planned to make just a quick stop to check on a family member before arriving at the conference. However, in addition to taking a wrong turn before I arrived, I needed to spend more time with my family than expected. As a result, I arrived late to my conference that day. Making my way to my seat, I was handed my packet and told each person had been given a passage of scripture and we’d all be sharing a short message over that passage with the group.

With just a few minutes to prepare, I looked at my passage, Psalm 113. I wasn’t familiar with it and time was nearly approaching. It would soon be my turn to speak, what would I do? I panicked, as I didn’t know what to do or say. Could I wing it or would I fall flat on my face?

Just as the fear seemed to cripple me, I woke up to discover it was just a dream. I wasn’t going to embarrass myself, at least not now, but I was curious. What did Psalm 113 have to say? What would I share from the passage had it not been a dream?

Here are some thoughts after looking at Psalm 113 this morning.  

1.    “Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 113:1a NLT)

a. This isn’t a command, but a declaration and an invitation. 

b. This is an invitation to hope, peace, joy and life.

c. It is a reminder of God’s goodness in a world of suffering.

2.    “Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 113:1b NLT)

a. Who else should be the first to praise the Lord but His people?

b. But how often do we forget, lose sight of His goodness, and fall into the patterns of the world? We become buried in anxiety, worry, and fear rather than hope and confidence of what He will do.

c. How would things be different if, regardless of the circumstances and outward appearances, we took up the refrain to Praise the Lord and remembered His goodness and His promises despite what we feel or see around us? His word will come to pass. 

3.    God is to be praised by all people in all places of the earth, as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 113:3 NLT).

a. This is the same distance he has removed our sins from us.

b. Let us praise Him for all He has done, is doing, and will do, even if it looks impossible. 

c. He will do what He says He will do. Will we trust Him? 

4.    Why do we praise Him? The Psalm goes on to tell us.

a. “He is high above the nations” (Psalm 113:4 NLT).

b.  There is no one like our God (Psalm 113:5 NLT).

c.   He watches over heaven and earth. He is aware of what is going on in here (Psalm 113:6 NLT). 

d.  “He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump” (Psalm 113:7 NLT).

i.  He sees our lot, but does not leave us there.

ii.  He is aware of our condition but has redeemed and restored us.

iii.  Our circumstances may seem dire on this earth, but our hope is in the world to come.

iv.  “Here on earth you will have many trails and sorrows. But take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT).

v. The circumstances of this fallen world cannot keep us from the promise of the Kingdom to come. 

5.    “He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother.” 

a.  He makes the impossible possible.

b.  He restores our joy.

c.   He is our hope and refuge.

Where are you today? What is happening in your life? Can you make a choice to worship in the middle of it all? 

Praise the Lord!