Psalms 113:5

5 Who can compare with God, our God, so majestically enthroned,

Psalms 113:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 113:5

Who is like unto the Lord our God
Among the gods of the nations, as Kimchi; or among the angels of heaven, or among any of the mighty monarchs on earth; there is none like him for the perfections of his nature, for his wisdom, power, truth, and faithfulness; for his holiness, justice, goodness, grace, and mercy; who is eternal, unchangeable, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent; nor for the works of his hands, his works of creation, providence, and grace; none ever did the like: and what makes this reflection the more delightful to truly good men is, that this God is their God; and all this is true of our Immanuel, God with us; who is God over all, and the only Saviour and Redeemer; and there is none in heaven and earth like him, or to be desired besides him.

Who dwelleth on high?
in the high and holy place, in the highest heaven, which is his throne; or "who exalteth himself to dwell" F19; so the Targum,

``he exalteth his habitation to dwell,''

suitable to the dignity and the greatness of his majesty; as he is high and above all, so he has fixed his habitation in the highest heavens; as he is self-existent, he is self-exalted, and none can exalt him as himself; he is exalted above all blessing and praise; and if it is an exaltation of him to dwell in the highest heavens, what an exaltation will it be of the saints to dwell with him there, in those mansions in his house which Christ is gone to prepare for them! This clause may be applied to Christ, who, both previous to his humiliation, and after it, dwelt in the highest heavens with his Father, in his bosom, from whence he came down on earth, and whither he is gone again, and is highly exalted there.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 (tbvl yhybgmh) "sustollens se ad habitandum", Montanus; "qui se elevat", Pagninus.

Psalms 113:5 In-Context

3 From east to west, from dawn to dusk, keep lifting all your praises to God!
4 God is higher than anything and anyone, outshining everything you can see in the skies.
5 Who can compare with God, our God, so majestically enthroned,
6 Surveying his magnificent heavens and earth?
7 He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.