Psalms 149

Listen to Psalms 149
1 1Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD 2a new song, his praise in 3the assembly of the godly!
2 Let Israel 4be glad in 5his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their 6King!
3 Let them praise his name with 7dancing, making melody to him with 8tambourine and 9lyre!
4 For the LORD 10takes pleasure in his people; he 11adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them 12sing for joy on their 13beds.
6 Let 14the high praises of God be in their throats and 15two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with 16chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment 17written! 18This is honor for all his godly ones. 19Praise the LORD!

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Psalms 149 Commentary

Chapter 149

Joy to all the people of God. (1-5) Terror to their enemies. (6-9)

Verses 1-5 New mercies continually demand new songs of praise, upon earth and in heaven. And the children of Zion have not only to bless the God who made them, but to rejoice in him, as having created them in Christ Jesus unto good works, and formed them saints as well as men. The Lord takes pleasure in his people; they should rejoice in Him. When the Lord has made sinners feel their wants and unworthiness, he will adorn them with the graces of his Spirit, and cause them to bear his image, and rejoice in his happiness for ever. Let his saints employ their waking hours upon their beds in songs of praise. Let them rejoice, even upon the bed of death, assured that they are going to eternal rest and glory.

Verses 6-9 Some of God's servants of old were appointed to execute vengeance according to his word. They did not do it from personal revenge or earthly politics, but in obedience to God's command. And the honour intended for all the saints of God, consists in their triumphs over the enemies of their salvation. Christ never intended his gospel should be spread by fire and sword, or his righteousness by the wrath of man. But let the high praises of God be in our mouths, while we wield the sword of the word of God, with the shield of faith, in warfare with the world, the flesh, and the devil. The saints shall be more than conquerors over the enemies of their souls, through the blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony. The completing of this will be in the judgement of the great day. Then shall the judgement be executed. Behold Jesus, and his gospel church, chiefly in her millennial state. He and his people rejoice in each other; by their prayers and efforts they work with him, while he goes forth in the chariots of salvation, conquering sinners by grace, or in chariots of vengeance, to destroy his enemies.

Cross References 19

  • 1. [See Psalms 148:14 above]
  • 2. See Psalms 33:3
  • 3. Psalms 89:5, 7
  • 4. Psalms 85:6
  • 5. See Psalms 95:6; Job 35:10
  • 6. 1 Samuel 12:12; Zechariah 9:9
  • 7. Psalms 150:4; [Psalms 30:11]
  • 8. Psalms 150:4; Exodus 15:20
  • 9. Psalms 150:3
  • 10. Psalms 35:27; Psalms 147:11
  • 11. [Isaiah 61:3]
  • 12. See Job 35:10
  • 13. Psalms 4:4; Psalms 63:6; [Hosea 7:14]
  • 14. [Psalms 66:17]
  • 15. Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:12; [Proverbs 5:4]
  • 16. [Job 36:8]
  • 17. Isaiah 65:6; [Job 13:26]
  • 18. [Psalms 148:14]
  • 19. [See Psalms 148:14 above]

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 149

This psalm is thought by Calvin and others to have been written for the sake of the Jews that returned from the Babylonish captivity; and is a prediction of great and famous things done in the times of the Maccabees to Heathens and their princes, so Theodoret; the Syriac version entitles it,

``concerning the new temple;''

that is, the second temple, built by Zerubbabel, and the things done under that; but it rather seems to have been written by David in the beginning of his reign, when he obtained victories over the Philistines, Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Syrians; and refers to the times of the Messiah, as Kimchi, R. Obadiah Gaon, and others think; not of the Jews' vainly expected Messiah, but of the true Messiah, who is come, and will come again, spiritually and personally; and there are many things in it applicable both to the first and latter part of his days.

Psalms 149 Commentaries

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.