Psalms 149

Israel Invoked to Praise the LORD.

1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a ¹new song, And His praise ²in the congregation of the godly ones.

2 Let Israel be glad in ³his Maker; Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their ⁴King.

3 Let them praise His name with ⁵dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with ⁶timbrel and lyre.

4 For the LORD ⁷takes pleasure in His people; He will ⁸beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.

5 Let the ⁹godly ones exult in glory; Let them ¹⁰sing for joy on their beds.

6 Let the ¹¹high praises of God be in their mouth, And a ¹²two-edged ¹³sword in their hand,

7 To ¹⁴execute vengeance on the nations And punishment on the peoples,

8 To bind their kings ¹⁵with chains And their ¹⁶nobles with fetters of iron,

9 To ¹⁷execute on them the judgment written; This is an ¹⁸honor for all His godly ones. Praise the LORD!

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

• 1. Psalms 33:3
• 2. Psalms 35:18; Psalms 89:5
• 3. Psalms 95:6
• 4. Judges 8:23; Psalms 47:6; Zechariah 9:9
• 5. 2 Samuel 6:14; Psalms 150:4
• 6. Exodus 15:20; Psalms 81:2
• 7. Job 36:11; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 35:27; Psalms 147:11
• 8. Psalms 132:16; Isaiah 61:3
• 9. Psalms 132:16
• 10. Job 35:10; Psalms 42:8
• 11. Psalms 66:17
• 12. Hebrews 4:12
• 13. Nehemiah 4:17
• 14. Ezekiel 25:17; Micah 5:15
• 15. Job 36:8
• 16. Nahum 3:10
• 17. Deuteronomy 7:12; Ezekiel 28:26
• 18. Psalms 112:9; Psalms 148:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "Hallelujah!"
• [b]. Heb YAH
• [c]. Lit "throat"
• [d]. Or "Hallelujah!"
• [e]. Heb YAH

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.