Psalms 113-118 constitute the Egyptian Hallel(lit. praise, cf. Hallelujah). Hallelis the imperative singular and is a command to praise. The Hallelwas a collection of psalms the Jews sang at the three yearly feasts that all the males had to attend: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. They also used these psalms on other holy days. At Passover it was customary to sing Psalms 113 and 114 before the meal and 115-118 after it. They also sang Psalm 136, the "Great Hallel,"at its climax.
"There was more relevance in these psalms to the Exodus--the greater Exodus--than could be guessed in Old Testament times."186
This psalm calls on God's servants to praise Him because even though He occupies an exalted position He has humbled Himself to lift up the lowly (cf. Phil. 2:7). It expresses thoughts similar to Hannah's prayer (1 Sam. 2:1-10) and Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).187