Read Psalm 113:1-10 1Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! 2Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! 3From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! 4The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! 5Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, 6who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? 7He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 8to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. 9He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
These next six psalms are known as the Passover Psalms. The first two were sung before the Passover meal, and the last four were sung after the meal. Jesus definitely sang these psalms with his disciples on the night of his crucifixion.
Jesus needed the Father to look down from Heaven and raise him from the dust of death. He trusted in God to raise him up to sit with princes on the right hand of the Father. He was counting on God to give his barren bride, the church, a home, making her joyous and fruitful in disciple making.
Because the Father has heard Jesus’ prayer from Psalm 113, we can now pray Psalm 113 with confidence. Jesus looks down on us, comes down to us, picks us up from the ash heap of shame and sorrow, and raises us up to be seated with him, making us his joyous bride, fruitful in every good endeavor.
Praise the Lord!
To live is Christ is to go from being spiritually barren to spiritually fruitful. Meaningless and mournful to purposeful and praising. In Christ, we have been lifted from the dust and ash to heights of glory in Heaven. Can we live today like this is actually true?
You: Do you see yourself as being in the ash heap or seated in glory?
You in Christ: How has your union with Christ given your life purpose?
Christ in you: What would a fruitful spiritual lifelook like for you in Christ?
Pray: Father, you raised this poor and needy soul up from the ash of sin and the dust of death. I don’t always live like this is true, but help me today to begin with simple praise. Amen.
To Live is Christ 