Psalm 113:5 declares God’s peerless majesty and ever-abiding compassion.
The psalmist marvels at God’s unmatched greatness by asking, “Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high?” (v.5). This question envisions the LORD (Yahweh) as supremely exalted above all creation, while prompting readers to praise His incomparably sovereign rule. It calls us to recognize the vastness of God’s character, emphasizing that no other being, deity, or human authority can rival His position. Moreover, this description of God as enthroned on high points to His eternal reign—and reassures believers that the Creator is always above and beyond the shifting sands of life’s circumstances.
“Who is like the LORD our God” (v.5) is also an invitation to reflect on the unique relationship between God and His people. Throughout the Old Testament, we see that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob consistently reveals Himself as faithful, righteous, and merciful. Though no specific historical figures are mentioned in this verse, this Psalm connects with the broader timeline of Israel’s faith in the God who delivered them from Egypt and established them in the Promised Land. Across the centuries leading up to Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (circa 4 BC - AD 30), this sense of wonder at God’s grandeur persists, culminating in the New Testament where Jesus, the Son of God, sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).
Recognizing that God is “enthroned on high” does not place Him at a distance from humanity. Throughout Scripture, He draws near to His people with compassion, especially demonstrated in Christ’s incarnation (John 1:14). While “Who is like the LORD our God” (v.5) might at first suggest an untouchable deity, God’s very glory is to stoop in intimacy to draw close to those who call on His name. This verse, firmly embedded in the structure of Psalm 113, reminds worshipers then and now of God’s limitless power and unceasing willingness to draw near.
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Psalms 113:5 meaning
The psalmist marvels at God’s unmatched greatness by asking, “Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high?” (v.5). This question envisions the LORD (Yahweh) as supremely exalted above all creation, while prompting readers to praise His incomparably sovereign rule. It calls us to recognize the vastness of God’s character, emphasizing that no other being, deity, or human authority can rival His position. Moreover, this description of God as enthroned on high points to His eternal reign—and reassures believers that the Creator is always above and beyond the shifting sands of life’s circumstances.
“Who is like the LORD our God” (v.5) is also an invitation to reflect on the unique relationship between God and His people. Throughout the Old Testament, we see that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob consistently reveals Himself as faithful, righteous, and merciful. Though no specific historical figures are mentioned in this verse, this Psalm connects with the broader timeline of Israel’s faith in the God who delivered them from Egypt and established them in the Promised Land. Across the centuries leading up to Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (circa 4 BC - AD 30), this sense of wonder at God’s grandeur persists, culminating in the New Testament where Jesus, the Son of God, sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).
Recognizing that God is “enthroned on high” does not place Him at a distance from humanity. Throughout Scripture, He draws near to His people with compassion, especially demonstrated in Christ’s incarnation (John 1:14). While “Who is like the LORD our God” (v.5) might at first suggest an untouchable deity, God’s very glory is to stoop in intimacy to draw close to those who call on His name. This verse, firmly embedded in the structure of Psalm 113, reminds worshipers then and now of God’s limitless power and unceasing willingness to draw near.