Psalms 113.
An exhortation to praise God for his excellency, and for his mercy.
THIS and the five following psalms, were by the Jews called הלל hallel, or hymns; they were made use of at the feasts of the new moons, and on other solemn occasions, especially on the paschal night, after they had eaten the lamb. The evangelist alludes to this custom, Matthew 26:30.; Mark 14:26. The intention of this psalm is, to excite men to praise God for his good providence, several instances of which are here mentioned; and particularly his mercy to the Gentile world, in making the barren woman a joyful mother of children.

Psalms 113:3. From the rising of the sun, &c.— i.e. from the one end of the heathen world to the other. See Malachi 1:11. "His mercies and goodness to mankind, especially that great evangelical mercy, the gift of Christ, shall be solemnly proclaimed and promulgated."

Psalms 113:6. Who humbleth himself to behold, &c.— Mudge renders the foregoing verse unitedly with this: Who is as the Lord our God, that sitteth so high, that looketh so low, in the heaven, and in the earth? In the heaven, says he, is referred to the former, and in the earth, to the latter clause; "Who is there that sitteth so high in the heaven, and looketh so low on the earth?" Since God's glory is above the heavens, Psa 113:4 it is a great condescension in him to behold and order the things which are in heaven; but a much greater to extend his kind and careful providence even to us who dwell upon the earth. This is an observation which hath always had truth, even from the beginning of the world; but then most signally when the Messiah, the supreme God of heaven, came to visit us here on earth in great humility. See Jeremiah 10:7.