Who is like the Lord our God?

Psalm 113:1-9

Key Verse 113:5

Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high…

According to verse 1 this psalm is dedicated to the servants of the Lord. What would it be like for one to live as: 1) some else's "servant"; and 2) the servant of the Lord? 

Read verses 1-3. In this passage the word 'praise' is repeated. What does it mean to praise the 'name' of the Lord? Verse 2 exhorts to praise the Lord both now and forevermore. Why forevermore?

Compare verses 4-5 and verses 6-8. What might it take for the one who is at the top (or above) to take care of the one who is at the bottom? What does the expression 'our God' indicate about the psalmist's relationship with the Lord? Who is like the Lord our God? (Cf. Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 2:12; Matthew 1:23]

Read verses 7-9 again. What does it mean to: 1) "raise the poor from the dust"; 2) "lift the needy from the ash heap"; and 3) make a [barren] woman to be a happy mother? [Cf. 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Phi 2:6-10]