John Calvin Commentary Psalms 113:7

"He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the needy from the dunghill;" — Psalms 113:7 (ASV)

Who raiseth the poor from the dust. In this passage, he speaks in commendation of God’s providential care regarding the diverse changes that people are inclined to view as accidental. He declares that it is solely by God’s appointment that things undergo changes far surpassing our expectations.

If the course of events were always uniform, people would attribute it merely to natural causes; whereas, the vicissitudes that take place teach us that all things are regulated according to God’s secret counsel. On the other hand, struck with astonishment at events that have happened contrary to our expectation, we instantly attribute them to chance.

And since we are so prone to view things from a perspective completely opposite to recognizing God’s superintending care, the prophet urges us to admire his providence in matters of marvelous or unusual occurrence; for since cowherds, and people of the lowest and most abject condition, have been elevated to the summit of power, it is most reasonable that our attention should be captured by such an unexpected change.

We now perceive the prophet’s purpose. In this passage, as in others, he might have presented to us the structure of the heavens and the earth; but, since our minds are unaffected by the ordinary course of things, he declares that the hand of God is most apparent in his marvelous works.

And in saying that people of humble and abject condition are not merely elevated to some minor sovereignty, but are invested with power and authority over God’s holy people, he magnifies the greatness of the miracle — this being of far more consequence than ruling in other parts of the earth; for the state or kingdom of the Church constitutes the principal and majestic theater where God presents and displays the signs of his wonderful power, wisdom, and righteousness.