Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 113:6
Who humbleth [himself] to behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth!
Who humbleth himself … – So high that it is necessary he should stoop even to behold the things which seem most lofty to us; and who actually does stoop thus to regard the things which he has made in heaven and on earth.
To behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! – More literally, to look in heaven and in earth. Even to look on heaven, high as it is to us – still more to look on earth, so insignificant as compared with the vast bodies in the heavens – is condescension on the part of God. It requires him to stoop – even to look on the sun – the stars – the distant worlds! Yet he does this. There is not a world which he does not survey constantly; not a creature whose interests he does not regard; not an insect – a flower – an atom – that he does not regard with as much minute attention as though there were nothing else to demand his care.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Who is so high, that it is a wonderful vouchsafement and condescension in him to take any notice or care of his holy and heavenly host, and much more of sinful and miserable men upon earth, which yet he is pleased to do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth. The persons the highest heavens, the angels whom he upholds in their beings, and admits into his presence; who always behold his face, and he beholds them, delights in their persons, and accepts their services; which, though pure and perfect, it is a condescension in him to do, since they are but creature services, and chargeable with folly and weakness; and who themselves are as nothing in comparison of him, and veil their faces before him; Job 4:18, also glorified saints are continually in his view, and favoured with intimate communion with him: and he humbles himself to look lower than this, and behold the things in the starry heavens, the sun, and moon, and stars; whom he preserves in their being, directs their courses, and continues their influence; brings out their host by number, calls them by their names, and because of his power not one fails: he looks lower still, and beholds the things in the airy heavens; there is not a meteor or cloud that flies, or a wind that blows, but he observes, guides, and directs it; nor a bird in the air but his eye is on it; he feeds the fowls of the air, and not so much as a sparrow falls to the ground without his knowledge and will: and he also humbles himself to behold persons and things on earth, even every beast of the forest, the cattle on a thousand hills, all the fowls of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field; and their eyes are on him, and he gives them their food in due season; he looks down from heaven and beholds all the children of men, and is the Saviour of them in a providential way; in an especial manner his eye, both of providence and grace, is on his own people, whom he beholds in Christ as fair and comely: and rejoices over them to do them good; and he has respect to their services for his sake, and condescends to dwell on earth with them. This may also be applied to Christ, who humbled himself to look upon the angels in heaven, and take them under his care and protection, be the head of them, and confirm them in that estate in which they were created: and who from all eternity vouchsafed to look with delight upon the sons of men, rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth, where he knew they would dwell; and in the fulness of time he humbled himself to come down on earth in human nature and dwell among men, and become very man in that nature; made himself of no reputation, and humbled himself so as to become obedient to death, the death of the cross, and be made sin and a curse for his people. This was an humiliation indeed!
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) Humbleth himself.Contrast this condescension with the indifference to human joys and sorrows which heathen deities were said to show.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Who humbleth himself to behold Better, who maketh low to see. He maketh himself low (condescends) to see the things which are in heaven and earth. Here is the distinguishing glory of God. He that is above all creatures, all finite existence, takes personal notice of all things, however minute, in heaven and earth. This is the central thought of the psalm.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 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 Jer 10:7.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 113:6 Who humbleth [himself] to behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth!
Ver. 6. Who humbleth himself ] Lo, it is a condescension in God to vouchsafe to look out of himself upon the saints and angels, how much more upon us, since sin setteth us farther beneath a worm than a worm is beneath an angel!
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
heaven = the heavens.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
humbleth: Psa 11:4, Job 4:18, Job 15:15, Isa 6:2
in heaven: Bp. Lowth observes that the two members of this line are to be referred severally to the two preceding lines; as if it were, “Who is exalted to dwell in the heavens; and who humbleth himself to inspect the things on earth.”
in the earth: Psa 138:6, Isa 57:15, Isa 66:2
Reciprocal: 1Ki 8:30 – and hear 2Ch 6:18 – But will 2Ch 16:9 – the eyes Job 21:22 – he judgeth Psa 7:7 – return Psa 123:1 – O thou Psa 148:4 – heavens Isa 33:5 – he dwelleth Isa 63:15 – the habitation Jer 49:19 – who is like Dan 2:11 – whose Mic 7:18 – a God Luk 1:52 – put Luk 12:6 – and
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
The second reason is that He condescends to pay attention to His creatures. One example of this is the way He occasionally exalts very poor or underprivileged people to positions of wealth and influence. He did this literally for Job, and He does it spiritually for every believer. Another example is how He sometimes makes barren women conceive and bear children. Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah received this blessing, to name a few individuals. In view of God’s promises to make the Israelites numerous, the ability to bear children was one they valued greatly.
The psalm closes as it opened, with a call to praise the Lord. Psalms 115-117 end with the same exhortation.
The Lord is worthy of praise because He graciously gives great blessings to those who have no hope of obtaining them from any other source. [Note: See Allen, And I . . ., pp. 111-28.]