Psalms 113:9

9. Barren woman to keep house Properly, to dwell, or abide, in the house. The allusion is to the uncertain continuance of the barren wife in the family, owing to the capricious tyranny of the husband, under the wretched system of domestic life in Asia. Children are a natural bond of sympathy between husband and wife, and the language is expressive of a happy and prosperous condition of domestic and social life. The same figure occurs Psalms 68:6. The text is to be taken figuratively to signify, that as the barren wife is restored to favour, and the family life made happy, when the reproach of barrenness is removed, so God had now restored and established his people in joy and prosperity. See the figure applied to the Church, Isaiah 54:1. Psalms 113:7-9; Psalms 113:7-9 seem to have a historic pointing. Had not God recently raised Israel from the “dunghill” to honour? Had not the families and family life of the nation been recently restored? The infinite condescension of God in thus remembering their low estate is the theme of the psalm. It is a companion piece to Psalms 114:0, and savors of the fresh joy of the returned exiles from Babylon.