Bible Commentaries

This is the first of six psalms which constitute the Hallel or Hymn of Praise, which the Hebrews sang at Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. This group is necessarily of special interest to us because in all probability, these psalms were sung by our Lord and His disciples on that dark night in which He was betrayed. While we shall read them and think of them as the songs of the ancient people, we cannot help thinking of them as uttered by that Voice which was and is the perfect music.

The first psalm celebrates the name of Jehovah on two accounts. He is high, yet He is lowly; above the nations and above the heavens, ye t humbling Himself to behold the heavens and the earth. This is a startling way of stating the fact. The thing which exalts man, the contemplation and consideration of the creation and its glories, humbles God, so far is He above creation in the awful majesty of His essential life. Yet how He humbles Himself! Think of these words passing the lips of Him Who “humbled Himself,” and became “obedient unto death.” Then notice the evidences of God’s humility and height. He stoops to lift, for He raiseth the poor, lifteth up the needy, and turns barreness into the joy of motherhood. Again, think how amid the deepening shadows the Incarnate Word sang with a little band of men of the purpose of His humbling, and try and imagine the joy set before Him, and so approach to an understanding of how He endured.