Single lesson
Psalm 113: The LORD Exalts the Humble
Psalms 113:1–9
Psalm 113 is a poem of praise. It calls Yahweh’s servants to praise his name, then shows why: Yahweh is higher than all, yet he sees and lifts people in low places.
Before you teach
In Psalm 113:1–9, the poem begins and ends with praise. The passage itself does not name an individual speaker. Instead, the poem’s voice calls “you servants of Yahweh” to praise Yahweh’s name, celebrates his greatness above nations and heavens, and describes his care for poor, needy and barren people.
Students will identify that Psalm 113 speaks in a poetic voice calling Yahweh’s servants to praise him, and trace how the psalm moves from praise to Yahweh’s greatness to his care for humble people.
Welcome: Who is speaking in the poem?
5 minRead Psalm 113:1–3 aloud. Ask children to listen for repeated words. Explain one key point clearly: the passage does not name an individual speaker. The poem’s voice gives a command to “you servants of Yahweh” and calls them to praise Yahweh’s name now, forever, and across the whole day.
Psalms 113:1, Psalms 113:2, Psalms 113:3
Read and explain: Yahweh is high above all
7 minRead verses 4–6. Help children notice the big picture words: “all nations”, “above the heavens”, and “on high”. Then explain the question, “Who is like Yahweh, our God?” The question points to Yahweh’s unmatched greatness. Yet the same God “stoops down” to see heaven and earth.
Psalms 113:4, Psalms 113:5, Psalms 113:6
Discuss: From low places to honour
6 minRead verses 7–8 slowly. Ask children to picture the movement in the poem. The poor are raised from the dust and the needy are lifted from the ash heap. Then they are set with princes. The psalm describes Yahweh changing a person’s place from lowliness to honour.
Psalms 113:7, Psalms 113:8
Make and respond: Draw the poem’s movement
8 minGive each child paper folded into three panels. Label them “Praise”, “High Above”, and “Lifts Up”. Children draw or write details from the psalm in each panel, such as sun, heavens, dust, princes, home, or joyful mother. Invite them to include one line from the psalm in their card.
Psalms 113:1, Psalms 113:3, Psalms 113:4, Psalms 113:7, Psalms 113:9
Closing: End where the psalm ends
4 minRead verse 9 and then repeat the opening words from verse 1. Ask children to say the poem’s order together: a call to praise, Yahweh high above all, Yahweh stooping down, Yahweh lifting the poor and needy, and Yahweh giving joy in a home. Finish with a brief spoken response of praise.
Psalms 113:1, Psalms 113:6, Psalms 113:7, Psalms 113:9
Questions to explore
Does Psalm 113 name an individual speaker, or does it speak in a poetic voice that calls others to praise?
Look closely at the opening words. The passage addresses “you servants of Yahweh” and tells them to praise Yahweh’s name, but it does not name a person speaking.
Psalms 113:1
How does the psalm describe where and when Yahweh should be praised?
Find the phrases about time and place, including “from this time forward”, “forever more”, and “from the rising of the sun to its going down”.
Psalms 113:2, Psalms 113:3
What changes does Yahweh bring for people in the final verses of the psalm?
List the actions in order: he raises, lifts, sets, and settles. Notice the low starting places and the joyful or honoured ending places.
Psalms 113:7, Psalms 113:8, Psalms 113:9
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Praise Movement Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils
- coloured pencils or crayons
- Bible text of Psalm 113
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels.
- Label the panels “Praise”, “High Above”, and “Lifts Up”.
- Draw or write images and words from Psalm 113 in each panel, such as sun, heavens, dust, princes, home, or joyful mother.
- Add one short line from the psalm to the front or back.
- Share the card with a partner and explain how the poem moves from praise to Yahweh’s care.
This activity helps children trace the poem’s movement from calling Yahweh’s servants to praise him to describing how he lifts humble people.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, pre-write the three panel headings and let them choose one image from each part of the psalm to draw.
- For older children, ask them to add verse numbers beside each panel and explain why Psalms 113:5 and Psalms 113:6 connect Yahweh’s greatness with his care.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: “Yahweh, we praise your name. You are high above all, and you see people in need. Please help us remember your greatness and your care.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 113
1 Praise Yah! Praise, you servants of Yahweh, praise Yahweh’s name.
2 Blessed be Yahweh’s name, from this time forward and forever more.
3 From the rising of the sun to its going down, Yahweh’s name is to be praised.
4 Yahweh is high above all nations, his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like Yahweh, our God, who has his seat on high,
6 who stoops down to see in heaven and on the earth?
7 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the needy from the ash heap,
8 that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children. Praise Yah!
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.