The Last Supper was where Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. As it was the custom, Jews sang the Passover Psalms, known as the Hallel Psalms after the meal. These are Psalms 113-118. Hallel means “praise”. This is where we get the Hebrew phrase “Hallelujah“. It literally means “Praise the Lord“. “Jah” also spelled “Yah” is God’s name. It’s where we also get “alleluia”. So, every time you hear someone say “Hallelujah!” they are saying, “Praise the Lord” in Hebrew! Let’s dig into the first of the Hallel Psalms…
Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord!
Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord! [Jesus!]
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.
3 Everywhere—from east to west—
praise the name of the Lord.
4 For the Lord is high above the nations;
his glory is higher than the heavens.5 Who can be compared with the Lord our God,
who is enthroned on high?
6 He stoops to look down
on heaven and on earth.
7 He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
8 He sets them among princes,
even the princes of his own people!
9 He gives the childless woman a family,
making her a happy mother.Praise the Lord!
Psalm 113 NLT
Main Points of this Passover Psalm
Jesus is the LORD!
The name “God” can mean anything, but “Jesus” is exclusive. Do not be ashamed to say the name of Jesus in praise or prayer! The name of Jesus is powerful! As Luke quoted Peter saying in the Book of Acts…
“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 NLT
In this Psalm, we are told to bless and praise His name 3 times!
From East to West
The NKJV version words verse 3 differently giving it a new meaning:
From the rising of the sun to its going down
Psalm 113:3 NKJV
The Lord’s name is to be praised.
In other words, we should praise God all day every day! Praise Him and give thanks for everything in your life.
God is Higher than the Nations
Pastor Sandy Adams provides some insight:
God is higher than heaven. The universe fits between His thumb and pinky, yet He oversees the quantum particles of the subatomic world. He’s higher than the heavens, yet stoops so low that nothing on earth occurs without His knowledge. He is infinitely high and intimately nigh.
God is both transcendent and immanent.
Do you think the disciples really understand the God who created the heavens was sitting with them at the Passover
Pasto Sandy Adams
table, singing hymns?
Daniel prayed acknowledging this…
“Praise the name of God forever and ever,
Daniel 2:20-23 NLT
for he has all wisdom and power.
21 He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.
22 He reveals deep and mysterious things
and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though he is surrounded by light.
23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,
for you have given me wisdom and strength.
When I pray this, I say, “He removes leaders and sets up other leaders”.
The Poor Become Princes
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He stressed that the least of these would be elevated. For instance, check out the Parable of the Vinyard Workers in Matthew 20, and the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16.
Barren Women
There are many stories of barren women who’ve given birth miraculously:
What are you praising God for?
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
