Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

113:4-9 Though He Is on High, He Looks upon the Lowly. This section develops the universal theme of the previous section in a surprising way: the God who deserves to be praised by all mankind is seated on high (ruling over the whole world), and yet he looks far down and raises the poor from the dust. The imagery of vv. 7-8 describes a position of extreme degradation and misery ("dust" and ash heap) being transformed to one of dignity and privilege (sit with princes). For an Israelite woman to be barren (i.e., unable to bear children) was a misery, too (cf. 1 Sam. 1:2-17), and this likewise provides an image of God's tender care for his loved ones. God's majesty never implies his remoteness from those who look to him; it implies instead his exhaustive attention to detail, and his inexhaustible ability to care for his faithful.