Psalm Devotional
A Joyful Mother of Children!
The theme of public praise continues in Psalms 113 through 118. This series of psalms is called The Hallel (the praise) and also The Egyptian Hallel. Psalm 136 is called The Great Hallel. These psalms are so called because most of them begin, and many end, with a call to praise the Lord.
This series was used in the three main annual feasts (Passover, Weeks [Pentecost] and Booths; see Lev. 23), the new moon (Num. 29:6), and the Feast of the Dedication (Hannukah; John 10:22). At the Passover, Psalms 113 and 114 were sung at the beginning of the meal and 115-118 at the end. Psalm 118 is the “hymn” that was sung at the end of the Last Supper (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26). This is an indication that the “hymns” of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are referring to the Old Testament psalms. Psalm 113 is very similar to Hannah’s song (1 Sam. 2:1-10) and The Magnificat of Mary (Luke 1:46-55). Psalm 113:7-8 is virtually identical to 1 Samuel 2:8. This indicates that these truths and expressions were ancient and stored deep in the hearts of God’s people (Ps. 119:11; Luke 6:45).
