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Psalms 149:1-8 open_in_new
The whole Book of Psalms is full of praise, but the praise culminates at the close. There are five «Hallelujah Psalms» at the end of the Book; they are so named because they both begin and conclude with the word Hallelujah, «Praise ye the Lord.» It must be to the intense regret of all reverent persons to find the word Hallelujah so used today, in a hackneyed way, that it is made to be a commonplace instead of a very sacred word,-Hallelujah, or, Praise be unto Jah, Jehovah. He who uses this word in a flippant manner is guilty of taking the name of the Lord in vain.
Psalms 149:1. Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song,
You have had new mercies from the Lord; give him in return a new song. You have a new apprehension of his mercy, you who live under this gospel dispensation have something more to sing of than even David experienced; therefore, «sing unto Jehovah a new song,»-throw your hearts into it; do not let it be a matter of routine, but let your whole soul, in all its vigor and freshness, address itself to the praise of God.
Psalms 149:1. And his praise in the congregation of saints.
All saints praise God; they are not saints if they do not. The praise of any one saint is sweet to him; but in the congregation of saints there is a linked sweetness, a wonderful commixture of precious things. Sing his praise, then, in the congregation of his holy ones.
Psalms 149:2. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him:
Adore your Creator for your being, and for your well being. He has twice made you, ye people of God; give him therefore double praise,-not only the song of those who sang when creation's work was done, but the praise of those who sing because they are made new creatures in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 149:2-19. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance:
The holy dance of those days differed altogether from the frivolous and lascivious dances of the present time. It was a sacred exercise in which the whole body expressed its delight before God.
Psalms 149:3. Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
The one to be struck and the other to be gently touched to yield its stringed sweetness.
Psalms 149:4. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people:
Should not they take pleasure in the condescension on his part to take any pleasure in them? Oh, what a lift up it is for us when we learn to take pleasure in the Lord!
Psalms 149:4. He will beautify the meek with salvation.
He dresses all his children; but the meek are his Joseph's, and upon them he puts the coat of many colors, and they shall inherit the earth.
Psalms 149:5. Let the saints be joyful in glory:
God is their glory; let them be joyful in him.
Psalms 149:5. Let them sing aloud upon their beds.
If they cannot come up to the congregation, yet, when they rest at home, or when they suffer at home, let them not cease from their music. God's praise comes up sweetly, I do not doubt, this Sabbath evening, from many a lonely chamber where the saints are waiting for the appearing of their Lord.
Psalms 149:6. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
«In their throat,» says the Hebrew, for God's saints sing deep down in their throats. There is a deeply rooted music when we praise God, which is altogether unlike the mere syllables of the lips that come from a hypocrite's tongue.
Psalms 149:6. And a two-edged sword in their hand;
For we have to fight today with principalities, and powers, and wickednesses everywhere. With the sword of the Spirit in our hands, we fight the battles of the Prince of peace.
Psalms 149:7-19. To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
So was it when Israel came into Canaan, ordained to execute the vengeance of God upon the heathen nations. We have no such warrant, and no such painful duty; but there is a prince who shall be bound with chains and with fetters of iron one day. The Lord shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly; and, meanwhile, we fight against the powers of evil of every kind. Oh, that God would help us to bind King Drunkenness with chains, and King Infidelity with fetters of iron! Would God the day were come when impurity, which defiles so many, were overcome and vanquished by the two-edged sword of the Spirit of God!
Psalms 149:9. To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints.
Or it may be read, «He is the honour of all his saints.» «Unto you that believe he is precious,» or, «he is an honour,» says the apostle; and there is no honour like that which comes of being coupled with God, living in him, and living for him.
Psalms 149:9. Praise ye the LORD.
What bursts of praise must have risen from the hosts of Israel when they gathered for their annual festivals, and sang together these last great Hallelujah Psalms!
This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 149, 150.
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Psalms 149:1-9 open_in_new
Psalms 149:1. Praise ye the Lord.
This is a Hallelujah Psalm; it begins with, «Praise ye the Lord,» and finishes in the same way. It is a complete circle of praise. The long streams of the Psalms end in glorious cascades of hallelujahs. One after another these jubilant notes roll out, as in Handel's magnificent Hallelujah Chorus.
Psalms 149:1. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
There was an old song previous to this new one, in the 148 th Psalm, the Psalm for sun and moon and stars, for deeps and dragons, for old men and maidens, and so on; but this is a Psalm for saints, so it is «a new song» for the new creation. Therefore, let all the new creatures of God sing it from their hearts.
Psalms 149:2. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him:
This is the best and highest form of creation, the making, not only of men, but of men of God, the making of Israels, the making of prevailing princes.
Psalms 149:2. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them rejoice that their Maker reigns, that he rules over them, and that he rules over all things: «Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.»
Psalms 149:3. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
That is, let them repeat the joy of Israel at the Red Sea, when Miriam «took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances; and Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously.» So, O ye children of God, let the praises of your God and King ring out as with the music of the timbrel and harp.
Psalms 149:4. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people:
Then, should not they take pleasure in him? If he looks upon them with divine delight, should not they look up to him with adoring gratitude? What is there in us to give him any pleasure? But if his delights are with the sons of men, surely the sons of men should have their delights in him: «For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people.»
Psalms 149:4-19. He will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory:
Let them glory in God, and be joyful in him. Let their spirits seem to rise even beyond grace up to the anticipation of glory: «Let the saints be joyful in glory.»
Psalms 149:5. Let them sing aloud upon their beds.
If they be sick, or if they lie awake at night, or if they have enjoyed sweet rest, let them not fail to praise God for it: «Let them sing aloud upon their beds.»
Psalms 149:6. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
But let it be a spiritual sword, that two-edged sword of God's Word which will cut through coats of mail; and as they wield it, let them ever rest satisfied that victory shall surely be theirs. One of the poetical versions of this Psalm rightly renders this verse,
«Ye saints of the Lord; as round him ye stand,
His two-edged sword, his word, in your hand,
To sound his high praises your voices employ!
To victory he raises, and crowns you with joy.»
Psalms 149:7. To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
So they had to do in those old times: but we, happily, have not to do so now, except it be in a spiritual sense that, with the sword of God's Word we are to cut down the idols of the heathen, and subdue the nations to our King.
Psalms 149:8. To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
Reading the passage in a gospel sense, we lead men captives in the bonds of love that are stronger than fetters of iron. O soldiers of Christ, army of the living God, this is the battle you have to fight; be this your victory, too!
Psalms 149:9. To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
So the Psalm ends upon its key-note, «Hallelujah.» «Praise ye the Lord.' Now let us turn to the 5 th chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, and see what we have to rejoice in there.
This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 149:1.; and Matthew 5:1-12.