Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. PSALM 149
Ps 149:1-9. This Psalm sustains a close connection with the foregoing. The chosen people are exhorted to praise God, in view of past favors, and also future victories over enemies, of which they are impliedly assured. 1. (Compare Ps 96:1). Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 2. God had signalized His relation as a sovereign, in restoring them to their land.
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 3. in the dance—(Ps 30:11). The dance is connected with other terms, expressive of the great joy of the occasion. The word may be rendered "lute," to which the other instruments are joined.
sing praises—or, sing and play. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 4. taketh pleasure—literally, "accepts," alluding to acceptance of propitiatory offerings (compare Ps 147:11).
beautify, &c.—adorn the humble with faith, hope, joy, and peace. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 5. in glory—the honorable condition to which they are raised.
upon their beds—once a place of mourning (Ps 6:6). Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 6. high praises—or, "deeds." They shall go forth as religious warriors, as once religious laborers (Ne 4:17).
To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 7. The destruction of the incorrigibly wicked attends the propagation of God's truth, so that the military successes of the Jews, after the captivity, typified the triumphs of the Gospel.
To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD. 9. the judgment written—either in God's decrees, or perhaps as in De 32:41-43. this honour—that is, to be thus employed, will be an honorable service, to be assigned his saints—or, godly ones (Ps 16:3). |
