5
Who is like the Lord our God,
Who dwells on high,
My Thoughts
Psalm 113:5 emphasizes the uniqueness of God, highlighting that none can compare to Him. The commentaries below discuss God’s unparalleled attributes, including His wisdom, power, and holiness. They note that although He dwells on high, He humbles Himself to observe the world. God’s exalted nature is contrasted with the approachability of His love for humanity. Ultimately, this passage reiterates God’s supreme greatness and infinite majesty in a world filled with lesser beings and idols…..Bill
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Commentaries:
Charles Spurgeon
“Who is like unto the LORD our God?” The challenge will never be answered. None can be compared with him for an instant; Israel’s God is without parallel; our own God in covenant stands alone, and none can be likened unto him. Even those whom he has made like himself in some respects are not like him in godhead, for his divine attributes are many of them incommunicable and inimitable. None of the metaphors and figures by which the Lord is set forth in the Scriptures can give us a complete idea of him; his full resemblance is borne by nothing in earth or in heaven. Only in Jesus is the Godhead seen, but he unhesitatingly declared “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”
“Who dwelleth on high.” In the height of his abode, none can be like him. His throne, his whole character, his person, his being, everything about him, is lofty, and infinitely majestic so that none can be likened unto him. His serene mind abides in the most elevated condition, he is never dishonored, nor does he stoop from the pure holiness and absolute perfection of his character. His saints are said to dwell on high, and in this, they are the reflection of his glory; but as for himself, the height of his dwelling place surpasses thought, and he rises far above the most exalted of his glorified people.
Eternal Power! whose high abode
Becomes the grandeur of a God:
Infinite lengths beyond the bounds
Where stars revolve their little rounds.
The lowest step around thy seat
Rises too high for Gabriel’s feet;
In vain the tall archangel tries
To reach thine height with wondering eyes.
Lord, what shall earth and ashes do?
We would adore our Maker too;
From sin and dust to thee we cry,
The Great, the Holy, and the High!
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Albert Barnes
Who is like unto the Lord our God? – Who can be compared with Yahweh our God? See the notes at Isaiah 40:17-25. The meaning is, that no creature – no idol – can be compared with Yahweh. The remark here has special reference to his attributes as immediately specified – his humbling himself to behold the things in heaven and in earth; his raising up the poor, etc. It is true “in general,” in regard to God, that no creature can be compared with him; it is true, in regard to each one of his attributes, that they are far above all created excellence.
Who dwelleth on high – Margin, “exalteth himself to dwell.” Literally, “The one making high to sit.” The language is applicable to one who is seated on a lofty throne. Compare Psalms 8:1. He has his dwelling – his throne – his permanent seat – in the heavens: so high and exalted that it requires infinite condescension to look upon the earth, or even upon the heavens.
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John Gill
Who is like unto the Lord our God,…. Among the gods of the nations, as Kimchi; or among the angels of heaven, or among any of the mighty monarchs on earth; there is none like him for the perfections of his nature, for his wisdom, power, truth, and faithfulness; for his holiness, justice, goodness, grace, and mercy; who is eternal, unchangeable, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent; nor for the works of his hands, his works of creation, providence, and grace; none ever did the like: and what makes this reflection the more delightful to truly good men is, that this God is their God; and all this is true of our Immanuel, God with us; who is God over all, and the only Saviour and Redeemer; and there is none in heaven and earth like him, or to be desired besides him.
Who dwelleth on high? in the high and holy place, in the highest heaven, which is his throne; or “who exalteth himself to dwell” so the Targum, “he exalteth his habitation to dwell,” suitable to the dignity and the greatness of his majesty; as he is high and above all, so he has fixed his habitation in the highest heavens; as he is self-existent, he is self-exalted, and none can exalt him as himself; he is exalted above all blessing and praise; and if it is an exaltation of him to dwell in the highest heavens, what an exaltation will it be of the saints to dwell with him there, in those mansions in his house which Christ is gone to prepare for them! This clause may be applied to Christ, who, both previous to his humiliation, and after it, dwelt in the highest heavens with his Father, in his bosom, from whence he came down on earth, and whither he is gone again and is highly exalted there.
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Matthew Henry
We must therefore say, with holy admiration, Who is like unto the Lord our God? Who of all the princes and potentates of the earth? who of all the bright and blessed spirits above? None can equal him, none dare compare with him. God is to be praised as transcendently, incomparably, and infinitely great; for he dwells on high, and from on high sees all, and rules all, and justly attracts all praise to himself.
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Adam Clarke
Who is like unto the Lord — Those who are highly exalted are generally unapproachable; they are proud and overbearing; or so surrounded with magnificence and flatterers, that to them the poor have no access; but God, though infinitely exalted, humbleth himself to behold even heaven itself, and much more does he humble himself when he condescends to behold earth and her inhabitants; (Psalms 113:6.) But so does he love his creatures that he rejoices over even the meanest of them to do them good.
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Cross References
Isaiah 40:17-25
New King James Version
17
All nations before Him are as nothing,
And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.
18
To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19
The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.
20
Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
To prepare a carved image that will not totter.
21
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
23
He brings the princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth useless.
24
Scarcely shall they be planted,
Scarcely shall they be sown,
Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,
When He will also blow on them,
And they will wither,
And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.
25
“To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.
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KJV W/Strongs Bible
113:5 Who [is] like unto the LORD 3068 our God 430, who dwelleth 3427 8800 on high 1361 8688,(dwelleth…: Heb. exalteth himself to dwell)
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Geneva Bible 1560
Psalm 113:5
5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hathe his dwelling on high!
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Final Thoughts:
Rev 4:11 NKJV
“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Rev 4:11 NKJV
….
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Rev 5:12 NKJV
….
“Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Rev 5:13 NKJV
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