Psalms 149

1 Praise the LORD.^[a]Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.

3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

6 May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands,

7 to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,

8 to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron,

9 to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people. 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 33:2; Psalms 103:1
• 2. S Psalms 28:7; S Psalms 96:1; Revelation 5:9
• 3. S Psalms 1:5; Psalms 35:18
• 4. Isaiah 13:3; Jeremiah 51:48
• 5. S Job 10:3; Psalms 95:6; Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 45:11; Isaiah 54:5
• 6. Psalms 10:16; Psalms 47:6; Isaiah 32:1; Zechariah 9:9
• 7. S Exodus 15:20
• 8. S Psalms 57:8; Psalms 81:2; Psalms 150:4
• 9. Psalms 35:27; Psalms 147:11
• 10. Psalms 132:16
• 11. S Psalms 132:16
• 12. Job 35:10; Psalms 42:8
• 13. Psalms 66:17
• 14. Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16
• 15. Nehemiah 4:17
• 16. S Numbers 31:3; S Deuteronomy 32:41
• 17. Psalms 81:15
• 18. S 2 Samuel 3:34; S Isaiah 14:1-2
• 19. 2 Chronicles 33:11
• 20. Deuteronomy 7:1; Ezekiel 28:26
• 21. S Psalms 145:10; Psalms 148:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "Hallelu Yah" ; also in verse 9

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.