Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 113:4
The LORD [is] high above all nations, [and] his glory above the heavens.
4 6. The ground of praise, Jehovah’s exaltation and condescension.
4 a. Cp. Psa 99:2.
4 b . Cp. Psa 57:5; Psa 57:11; Psa 8:1.
5 a . Cp. Exo 15:11; Deu 3:24.
5 b , 6. The structure of these lines lit. Who exalteth himself to sit, Who humbleth himself to see, in heaven and in earth makes it probable that in heaven and in earth belong to the two preceding lines respectively. Keble’s paraphrase expresses it excellently,
“Exalting still His holy place,
Low bending still His eye of grace,
In heaven above, in earth below.”
The point is Jehovah’s condescension. Though He sits enthroned on high in heaven, yet He stoops to regard the earth. He is not “careless of mankind,” as heathen gods were often supposed to be. For the thought cp. Psa 138:6; Isa 57:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Lord is high above all nations – Hebrew, Exalted above all nations is Yahweh. That is, he rules over all nations; he directs their affairs; he is their sovereign king. As a matter of fact, and from the necessity of the case, he is on a throne which is elevated above all the kings and kingdoms of the world. He is the Sovereign not only of one nation, but of all; and it is meet that this should be acknowledged by them all.
And his glory above the heavens – That which renders him glorious. The manifestations of his glorious character are not confined to the earth; they extend to the heavens; they are not confined to the visible heavens; they extend far beyond, in the regions of illimitable space. The universe – the earth and the starry worlds – all are full of the manifestations of his glory; and far beyond the bounds of created things (if they have a boundary), God is there – without limit – the same God – worthy there of universal praise! Who can comprehend such a God? Compare the notes at Psa 8:1.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. The Lord is high above all nations] He governs all, he provides for all; therefore let all give him praise.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
High above all nations; superior to all princes and bodies of people in the world.
His glory above the heavens: whereas the glory of earthly monarchs is confined to this lower world, and to small pittances of it, the glory of God doth not only fill the earth, but heaven too, where it is celebrated by thousands and myriads of blessed angels, yea, it is far higher than heaven, being infinite and incomprehensible.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4-6. God’s exaltation enhancesHis condescension;
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The Lord is high above all nations,…. He is the most High in all the earth; he is higher than the highest; he is King of kings and Lord of lords: all nations are made by him, and are under his government and dominion; he is the Governor among the nations; they are in comparison of him as the drop of a bucket, as the small dust of the balance; as nothing, yea, less than nothing, and vanity. Here it seems to respect the time when the Lord shall be more visibly King over all the earth, and the kingdoms of this world shall be the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, Zec 14:9.
And his glory above the heavens; it is above what the heavens do or can declare; they declare something of it, but not all. Christ, who is the brightness of his Father’s glory, is made higher than the heavens, and has ascended far above them; and is above the angels in them, both as to nature, name, office, and place, Heb 1:4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This praiseworthiness is now confirmed. The opening reminds one of Psa 99:2. Pasek stands between and in order to keep them apart. The totality of the nations is great, but Jahve is raised above it; the heavens are glorious, but Jahve’s glory is exalted above them. It is not to be explained according to Psa 148:13; but according to Psa 57:6, 12, belongs to Psa 113:4 too as predicate. He is the incomparable One who has set up His throne in the height, but at the same time directs His gaze deep downwards (expression according to Ges. 142, rem. 1) in the heavens and upon earth, i.e., nothing in all the realm of the creatures that are beneath Him escapes His sight, and nothing is so low that it remains unnoticed by Him; on the contrary, it is just that which is lowly, as the following strophe presents to us in a series of portraits so to speak, that is the special object of His regard. The structure of Psa 113:5-6 militates against the construction of “in the heavens and upon the earth” with the interrogatory “who is like unto Jahve our God?” after Deu 3:24.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(4) Comp. Psa. 8:1, &c
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. The Lord is high God is not only above the nations, but above the heavens; that is, above every thing that exists. This statement stands alike against polytheism and pantheism. He is a personal God over all, and ruling all.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
A most sublime thought is awakened by these verses, in the contemplation of God. To behold things in heaven, in the upper and brighter world, is wonderful condescension in him that inhabiteth the praises of eternity! And how much more so to behold things on earth, amidst the universal corruption induced by the fall! And to behold, and regard, a poor sinful worm of the earth, such as man, and the best of men, in his highest estate, is still going down in the scale of condescension. But what shall we say or think of that wonder of wonders, that He whose name is Holy, who dwelleth in the high and holy place, should come down and tabernacle with men, in the person of his dear Son? What an act of grace and condescension is here! Solomon, struck with the thoughts of God’s presence in the temple which he had built, cried out, under the solemn apprehension, But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have builded! But what would he have said, had he lived in gospel days, and beheld the word made flesh, dwelling among us; he, who was in the form of God, and with whom it was no robbery to be equal with God, making himself of no reputation, taking upon him the form of a servant, made in the likeness of men, found in fashion as a man, humbling himself, and becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross? Oh! thou unequalled pattern of all that is fair, and lovely, and excellent! In all things thou hast the pre-eminence! See those scriptures: Isa 57:15 ; 1Ki 8:28 ; Phi 2:6-8 ; Col 1:18 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 113:4 The LORD [is] high above all nations, [and] his glory above the heavens.
Ver. 4. The Lord is high, &c. ] He looketh on the earth as on an ant hill. All nations to him are but as a drop of a bucket, Isa 40:15 Quantilla ergo es tu istius guttae particula? (Aug.).
And his glory above the heavens
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
high: Psa 97:9, Psa 99:2, Isa 40:15, Isa 40:17, Isa 40:22
his glory: Psa 8:1, Psa 57:10, Psa 57:11, 1Ki 8:27, Isa 66:1
Reciprocal: Psa 57:5 – above Psa 148:13 – glory Isa 57:15 – I dwell
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 113:4-6. The Lord is high above all nations Superior to all princes and bodies of people in the world; and his glory above the heavens Whereas the glory of earthly monarchs is confined to this lower world, and to small pittances of it, the glory of God doth not only fill the earth, but heaven too, where it is celebrated by thousands and myriads of blessed angels; yea, it is far higher than heaven, being infinite and incomprehensible, Who is like unto the Lord? Hebrew, Jehovah, who dwelleth on high Namely, far above all heavens, and is exalted, as in place, so in power and dignity, above all persons and things, visible and invisible. Who humbleth himself, &c. Who is so high, that it is a wonderful condescension in him to take any notice of his holy and heavenly hosts, and much more of sinful and miserable men upon earth.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
113:4 The LORD [is] high above all {b} nations, [and] his glory above the heavens.
(b) If God’s glory shines through all the world, and therefore of all ought to be praised, what great condemnation were it to his people, among whom chiefly it shines, if they should not earnestly extol his Name?
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
2. Causes to praise the Lord 113:4-9
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The first reason God’s servants should praise Him is that He is the glorious sovereign ruler of all the earth.