From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, let Jehovah's name be praised.
Psalm 113 opens and closes with "Hallelujah," and each of its first verses widens the call to praise. So how far does that praise reach, and when does it happen?
Praise measured by time and by space
One writer traces how each phrase widens this praise, in time and in place:
The Lord calls His servants to praise His name from "this time" — the time when God steps in publicly to govern the world. His name will be blessed through all time — "forevermore." It will be blessed throughout the whole world — "from the rising of the sun to its setting." And it will be blessed "above all," whether that means "all nations" or all creation.
The name is the subject
The psalm praises God's name — what He has shown Himself to be. One writer names who leads that praise:
Christ calls them in spirit, blessed as they are with Him at their head, to praise the name of Jehovah. That name is the subject of the "Hallelujah" in each psalm. No one is like Jehovah, the God of that people. He is high above all the nations, and His glory is above the heavens. All things in heaven and earth are united under His possession, and He especially blesses the poor and lowly Israel. This is Psalm 113. Note, His name is to be praised to the end of the earth.
Another writer notes who is called, and what their praise says about their obedience:
All servants of Jehovah are urged to praise His name. In this way their obedience shows that it springs out of joyful adoration — the only service that can have value for Him.
Wider than one nation
Israel is the people the psalm has in view, yet verse 3 pushes past any single land:
Here the scope is clearly wider. Israel may be Jehovah's earthly centre, but His name shall be praised from east to west, from that day and evermore.
Writers link this wider reach to a promise made through the prophet Malachi:
Malachi 1:11 provides for the constant and worldwide recognition of Jehovah's name among the nations, and proper worship in every place.
The sunrise this psalm looks for
Commentators read the sunrise-to-sunset picture as pointing to a coming age, and then reaching past even that:
"From the rising of the sun to its going down" no doubt refers to the millennial age, when Christ the Sun of righteousness will arise (Mal. 4:2), to bless that whole dispensation with the goodness of His presence. That age will come to an end, but will give place to something even better, for the Lord's name will certainly be praised for eternity.
Why this name is worth praising
Why is this name worth praising? One writer points to verses 6 and 7:
If Jehovah's name is praised, then what He is is revealed. Grace alone is in question here. He lives on high, yet He "humbles Himself to look on the heavens and on the earth." That is grace, and the natural heart cannot take it in, for man would gladly say, "God cannot humble Himself." And further, though it is not a greater thing, He shows His grace to the poor in the dust and the needy on the ash heap.
The words "humbles Himself to look" come from an older translation of verse 6. The ESV reads, "who looks far down on the heavens and the earth."
Sung on the night of the Passover
These psalms had a fixed place in Israel's worship:
Here this Hallel (that is, praise), as the Jews call Psalms 113 — 118, ends. These are sung in the family celebration of the Passover night. Delitzsch writes that they "are divided into two parts, the one half (113, 114) being sung before the meal... and the other half (115 — 118) after the meal... to which the words, 'when they had sung a hymn' (Matt. 26:30, Mark 14:26), after the institution of the Lord's Supper... may refer."
Filling your own day
One writer applies this praise to the whole span of a believer's day:
It is our privilege to spend morning, noon, evening, and midnight presenting the sacrifice of praise to God. He assures us that this sacrifice is always most acceptable to Him. "Whoever offers praise," He says, "glorifies me."
Summary
- The Name — The praise goes to God's name: who He has shown Himself to be. Writers call it the subject of every "Hallelujah" in these psalms.
- From this time — Verse 2 starts the praise now and stretches it forever. Verse 3 stretches it across the earth, from east to west.
- To the nations — The praise reaches past Israel to worship "in every place." Writers tie this to Malachi's promise about the nations.
- Because He stoops — Grace is the reason. The God who lives on high looks down and lifts the poor out of the dust.
- So today — These psalms were sung at Passover. The same praise can fill your own day, from morning to midnight.