Psalm 149

Psa 149:1

See Lesson, Psalms, "Hallelujah".

"Psa 149 continues the voice of praise for present and future victories. The faithful are exhorted to praise Yahweh for victories accomplished (vv 1-4). Then the faithful are exhorted to praise Yahweh for victories anticipated (vv 5-9)" (GEM).

NEW SONG: Generally related to resurrection (ie Psa 40:3) and the New Creation (Psa 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; Isa 42:10). The "resurrection" of Israel, brought about by the destruction of Sennacherib's army.

(NT) Saints now means the "New Israel". And "assembly" = "ekklesia" (the Greek for "church") in the LXX. A "new song" describes Messiah's resurrection in Psa 40:1-3. And in Rev 5:9; 14:3, his saints glory in this. The context of Psa 33:3 suggests a New Creation surpassing all the wonder of that described in Gen 1; 2.

Psa 149:2

LET ISRAEL REJOICE IN THEIR MAKER: Or, as in Hebrew, "in those who made him"; that is, the angels who brought salvation to Israel -- by the destruction of Sennacherib's host (Isa 37:36) -- and thus made Israel into a "new creation" (as in Gen 1:26). Cp Isa 65:17,18 -- where "a new heavens and a new earth" = "Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy".

LET THE PEOPLE OF ZION BE GLAD IN THEIR KING: What "King"? In this place, surely the Lord of hosts (Isa 6:5)!

Psa 149:3

LET THEM PRAISE HIS NAME WITH DANCING: As did David (2Sa 6:14,16; cp Exo 15:20; Psa 30:11; 87:7; 150:4n; Jdg 11:34; Jer 31:13). So why is there such a strange lack of apparent joy in our worship? Are we really so afraid that our worship will be confused with the frenzied foolishness of the "Pentecostals"?

Psa 149:4

HE CROWNS THE HUMBLE WITH SALVATION: "For the Lord... will beautify the meek with salvation" (AV). "Will beautify" is translated "crowns" in NIV! (cp Psa 142:7). Everyone, therefore, who is interested in salvation should be just as interested in meekness. Is this so?

Psa 149:5

BEDS: (1) Hezekiah's bed of sickness (Psa 77:2-6; Isa 57:1,2); (2) "couches" at a festive meal (Mat 26:30; Mar 14:26; or (3) palanquin, litter, or chariot of war (Song 3:7, but different word).

Psa 149:6

SWORD: Cp Isa 49:2, re Hezekiah primarily.

(NT) The two-edged sword is clearly not literal regarding the Messiah, since such a "sword" proceeds out of his mouth (Isa 49:2; Mat 10:34; Rev 1:16; 2:12,16; 19:15). The point is this: when Christ speaks, it is done -- surely and without delay -- whether it be blessing or judgment: "Those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me" (Luke 19:27).

So, as regards the saints, the two-edged sword is a vivid figure for their declared message of the Word of God (Heb 4:12; Eph 6:12,17; 1Co 1:26-29; 2Co 6:7). With a declaration of God's word and power in their lips, they will begin to pull down every stronghold of men's minds which they have set up as defenses against the truth and reality of God (2Co 10:4-6). Thus they will conquer the world, not so much by swords, as "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (Rev 12:11). (Is such a sword "two-edged" because it contains both OT and NT? Or because it can either convert or condemn?)

Psa 149:7

VENGEANCE... PUNISHMENT: Rev 2:25-27; 19:15,16; 2Th 1:7,8.

PEOPLES: L'umim, Gentiles, esp Arabs (ie Gen 25:3; 27:29; Psa 47:3; 108:3,9,10; Isa 17:12,13; 34:1; 60:2,6,7).

Psa 149:8

FETTERS: Sw Isa 45:14, re Arabs.

Psa 149:9

THE SENTENCE WRITTEN: Where? Isa 34; 63:1-6. The first of these was a prophecy already uttered and written by Isaiah even before God came to the help of beleaguered Jerusalem.

THIS IS THE GLORY OF ALL HIS SAINTS: Cp vv 1,5. The vengeance and judgment are God's, but to participate therein reflects something of His honor upon the people who bear His Name.