Bible Commentaries
Psalms 149

Verse 1

Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise in the congregation of saints.

Praise ye the Lord — See Psalms 148:1 .

Sing unto the Lord a new song — A New Testament song, of a new argument, and for new benefits by the coming of Christ, whereof this psalm is prophetic. Old things are past, all things are become new, 2 Corinthians 5:16 ; new commandments, new promises, new sacraments, new grace, new praises, new privileges.

In the congregation of saints — His beneficiaries, whose joint praises must come before him as the sound of many waters; this is heaven upon earth.

Verse 2

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him — And new made him, Ephesians 2:10 , and thereby highly advanced him, as 1 Samuel 12:6 . The Hebrew hath it, In his makers, to show the Trinity of persons concurring in the work both of creation and regeneration. So Genesis 1:26 Job 35:10 Isaiah 54:5 Ecclesiastes 12:1 . See Psalms 100:3 .

Be joyful in their King — i.e. In Christ, whose kingdom is such as should swallow up all discontents, and make us everlastingly merry, Micah 4:9 . If Seneca could say to his friend, Polybius, Fas non est, salvo Caesare, de fortuna tua queri, Hoc incolumi salvi tibi sunt tui, …, It is not fit for thee to complain of thine hard fortune so long as Caesar is alive, and well; how much more may it be said so to Christians, so long as Christ is alive, and reigns!

Verse 3

Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Let them praise his name in the dance — Or, with the pipe, tibiis et tympanis et omni musices organicae genere, by all lawful means possible.

Verse 4

For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people — Psalms 35:27 , when they are under the cross especially, and thereby make meek. This the very heathen saw, and could say, Spectant Dii magnos viros, cum calamitate aliqua colluctantes. Ecce spectaculum, ad quod respiciat operi suo intentus Deus, saith Seneca of Cato, and other gallant Roman spirits (Lib. de Provid. c. 2). How much more may we say the like of God’s looking with singular delight on Abraham (Jehovah-jireh, "the Lord seeth," Genesis 22:14 , Job, Stephen, Laurence, and other faithful martyrs, suffering courageously for his truth, and sealing it with their blood!

He will beautify (or glorify) the meek with salvation — i.e. Not only deliver them, but dignify them in the eyes of all; Psalms 91:15 , I will deliver him, and glorify him. Bradford and such we shall look upon, likely (saith a grave author, Mr Bolton), with thoughts of extraordinary love and sweetness in the next world through all eternity; as Bonner and such with execrable and everlasting detestation.

Verse 5

Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

Let the saints be joyful in glory — i.e. In their glorious estate by Christ, notwithstanding their present poverty. "Let the brother of low degree rejoice (or glory) in that he is exalted," James 1:9 .

Let them sing aloud upon their beds — How hard soever; as Philpot and his fellow sufferers did. when they roused in the straw. Jacob had never more sweet intercourse with God than when his head lay upon the hard stone, at Bethel. Some by "beds" here understand the temples and schools. Confer Isaiah 57:1-2 Others render it, Ovabunt de cubilibus suis, They shall sing aloud for their beds, that is, for their sweet and solid tranquillity.

Verse 6

[Let] the high [praises] of God [be] in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;

Let the high praises (or the exaltations) of God be in their mouth — Heb. in their throat. So Isa. lviil. 1, "Cry aloud"; Heb. cry in the throat, set up thy note.

- Sic clames, ut Stentora vincas.

And a two-edged sword in their hand — Such an invincible power shall the saints have, as whereby they shall subdue all their enemies, corporal and spiritual. See Hebrews 13:12 Revelation 1:16 ; Revelation 19:15 . There was more than metal and form in Goliath’s sword, delivered by the priest to David; whose arm was not so much strengthend by it as his faith: so is every good Christian’s by that two-edged sword of the Spirit; he may well write upon it, as that renowned Talbot in the reign of Henry VI did upon his sword, in blunt and boisterous language, Sum Talbotti I am Talbot (this was engraven upon the one side of the blade, and upon the other) pro vincere inimicos meos For to conquer my enemies (Speed). See 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 .

Verse 7

To execute vengeance upon the heathen, [and] punishments upon the people;

To execute vengeance upon the heathen — viz. Upon a just calling, and not for private revenge; yea, that soldier can never answer it to God that strikes not more as a justicer than as an enemy, be his cause never so good. But that is the most noble vengeance that is executed upon men’s lusts; while they thrust the sword of the Spirit into the throats of them, and let out their life blood. That is a good sense that some give of these words, viz. that the saints, when they go forth to battle, should go with holy songs in their mouths, as well as with swords in their hands. See Judges 7:19-20 , …; 2 Chronicles 20:21 , …; the victoria Halleluiatica was got on this manner here in Britain, under the conduct of Germanus, against a mighty army of Pelagian Picts and Saxons. Ussier. de Brit. Eccles. Primord. This was the course and custom of the Angrognians in Piedmont against their Popish persecutors; and the like we read of the other French Protestants at the siege of Montaubon; that I mention not those gallant spirits at Edgehill battle with their reboated, Now for the fruit of prayer; together with the many psalms sung by that religious army in their several stations, whereof I have been an ear-witness.

Verse 8

To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

To bind their kings with chains — Restraining their vices, and bringing them to the obedience of faith. See Isaiah 45:14 . This is doubtless a desirable servitude, or rather freedom; this is not as chains and fetters, but as girdles and garters, to gird up their loins, and to expedite their course the better.

Verse 9

To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

To execute upon them the judgment written — The Jews thought they might kill any idolaters; and now to kill a Christian is counted by them a meritorious work. The wicked are apt to exceed their commission, Zechariah 1:15 . So may the saints. David was too cruel to the Ammonites, 2 Samuel 12:31 , Theodosius to the Thessalonians. Here, therefore, they are limited to the word "written."

This honour have all his saints — As having obtained like precious faith, 2 Peter 1:1 .