1 Praise the Lord! Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! 2 May the Lord’s name be praised now and forevermore! 3 From east to west the Lord’s name is deserving of praise. 4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations; his splendor reaches beyond the sky. 5 Who can compare to the Lord our God, who sits on a high throne? 6 He bends down to look at the sky and the earth. 7 He raises the poor from the dirt, and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 8 that he might seat him with princes, with the princes of his people. 9 He makes the barren woman of the family a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord! Psalm 113

1 Praise the Lord! Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Photo by Berthold Werner [in public domain].

2 May the Lord’s name be praised now and forevermore! Photo by Berthold Werner [in public domain].

3 From east to west the Lord’s name is deserving of praise. © 2017 www.clipart.com. Used by permission.

4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations; Photo by Jeff Schmaltz [in public domain].

…his splendor reaches beyond the sky. Photo by NASA. Used by permission.

5 Who can compare to the Lord our God, who sits on a high throne 5 Who can compare to the Lord our God, who sits on a high throne? 6 He bends down to look at the sky and the earth.

7 He raises the poor from the dirt, and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 8 that he might seat him with princes, with the princes of his people. 9 He makes the barren woman of the family a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord! Image on this and following slides: © 2017 www.clipart.com. Used by permission.

10 She was very upset as she prayed to the Lord, and she was weeping uncontrollably. 11 She made a vow saying, “O Lord of hosts, if you will look with compassion on the suffering of your female servant, remembering me and not forgetting your servant, and give a male child to your servant, then I will dedicate him to the Lord all the days of his life…. 1 Samuel 1:10-11

1 Hannah prayed, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted high because of the Lord. I loudly denounce my enemies, for I am happy that you delivered me. 2 No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one other than you! There is no rock like our God! . . . 1 Samuel 2:1-2 …

7 …he humbles and he exalts 7 …he humbles and he exalts. 8 He lifts the weak from the dust; he raises the poor from the ash heap to seat them with princes and to bestow on them an honored position. The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord, and he has placed the world on them. 1 Samuel 2:7-8

“God is even bigger than Israel thought, and the Psalm is even more inspiring.” “The Psalm is old fashioned and irrelevant, because science has changed how we see the world.” “The Psalm was never meant to offer a science lesson. It speaks in the imagery of its day, but it speaks truly about God.” “To believe the Psalm, I would have to reject what science claims about the universe.” “The Psalm speaks differently than science, but does not contradict science.”

1 Praise the Lord! Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Place picture of your school or town here

2 May the Lord’s name be praised now and forevermore! Place picture of your school or town here

3 From east to west the Lord’s name is deserving of praise. Place aerial picture of your area here

4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations; Place aerial picture of your region here

…his splendor reaches beyond the sky. Photo by NASA. Used by permission.

5 Who can compare to the Lord our God, who sits on a high throne 5 Who can compare to the Lord our God, who sits on a high throne? 6 He bends down to look at the sky and the earth. Place picture of your school or town here

7 He raises the poor from the dirt, and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 8 that he might seat him with princes, with the princes of his people. 9 He makes the barren woman of the family a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord! Image: © 2017 www.clipart.com. Used by permission.