mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 149.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cl" n="cl" next="Ps.cli" prev="Ps.cxlix" progress="71.83%" title="Chapter CXLIX">
<h2 id="Ps.cl-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cl-p0.2">PSALM CXLIX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cl-p1">The foregoing psalm was a hymn of praise to the
Creator; this is a hymn of praise to the Redeemer. It is a psalm of
triumph in the God of Israel, and over the enemies of Israel.
Probably it was penned upon occasion of some victory which Israel
was blessed and honoured with. Some conjecture that it was penned
when David had taken the strong-hold of Zion, and settled his
government there. But it looks further, to the kingdom of the
Messiah, who, in the chariot of the everlasting gospel, goes forth
conquering and to conquer. To him, and his graces and glories, we
must have an eye, in singing this psalm, which proclaims, I.
Abundance of joy to all the people of God, <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.1-Ps.149.5" parsed="|Ps|149|1|149|5" passage="Ps 149:1-5">ver. 1-5</scripRef>. II. Abundance of terror to the
proudest of their enemies, <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.6-Ps.149.9" parsed="|Ps|149|6|149|9" passage="Ps 149:6-9">ver.
6-9</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.cl-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149" parsed="|Ps|149|0|0|0" passage="Ps 149" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cl-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.1-Ps.149.5" parsed="|Ps|149|1|149|5" passage="Ps 149:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.149.1-Ps.149.5">
<h4 id="Ps.cl-p1.5">Saints Admonished to Praise
God.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cl-p2">1 Praise ye the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cl-p2.1">Lord</span>. Sing unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cl-p2.2">Lord</span> a new song, <i>and</i> his praise in the
congregation of saints.   2 Let Israel rejoice in him that
made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.  
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto
him with the timbrel and harp.   4 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cl-p2.3">Lord</span> taketh pleasure in his people: he will
beautify the meek with salvation.   5 Let the saints be joyful
in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cl-p3">We have here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cl-p4">I. The calls given to God's Israel to
praise. <i>All his works</i> were, in the foregoing psalm, excited
to <i>praise him;</i> but here his saints in a particular manner
are required to bless him. Observe then, 1. Who are called upon to
praise God. <i>Israel</i> in general, the body of the church
(<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.2" parsed="|Ps|149|2|0|0" passage="Ps 149:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), <i>the
children of Zion</i> particularly, the inhabitants of that holy
hill, who are nearer to God than other Israelites; those that have
the word and ordinances of God near to them, that are not required
to travel far to them, are justly expected to do more in praising
God than others. All true Christians may call themselves <i>the
children of Zion,</i> for in faith and hope <i>we have come unto
Mount Zion,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.22" parsed="|Heb|12|22|0|0" passage="Heb 12:22">Heb. xii.
22</scripRef>. The saints must praise God, saints in profession,
saints in power, for this is the intention of their sanctification;
they are devoted to the glory of God, and renewed by the grace of
God, that <i>they may be unto him for a name and a praise.</i> 2.
What must be the principle of this praise, and that is holy joy in
God: <i>Let Israel rejoice,</i> and <i>the children of Zion be
joyful,</i> and <i>the saints be joyful in glory.</i> Our praises
of God should flow from a heart filled with delight and triumph in
God's attributes, and our relation to him. Much of the power of
godliness in the heart consists in making God our chief joy and
solacing ourselves in him; and our faith in Christ is described by
our rejoicing in him. We then give honour to God when we take
pleasure in him. We must <i>be joyful in glory,</i> that is, in him
as our glory, and in the interest we have in him; and let us look
upon it as our glory to be of those that rejoice in God. 3. What
must be the expressions of this praise. We must by all proper ways
show forth the praises of God: <i>Sing to the Lord.</i> We must
entertain ourselves, and proclaim his name, by <i>singing praises
to him</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.3" parsed="|Ps|149|3|0|0" passage="Ps 149:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>),
<i>singing aloud</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.5" parsed="|Ps|149|5|0|0" passage="Ps 149:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>), for we should sing psalms with all our heart, as
those that are not only not ashamed of it, but are enlarged in it.
We must sing a <i>new song,</i> newly composed upon every special
occasion, sing with new affections, which make the song new, though
the words have been used before, and keep them from growing
threadbare. Let God be <i>praised in the dance with timbrel and
harp,</i> according to the usage of the Old-Testament church very
early (<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.15.20" parsed="|Exod|15|20|0|0" passage="Ex 15:20">Exod. xv. 20</scripRef>), where
we find God praised with <i>timbrels and dances.</i> Those who from
this urge the use of music in religious worship must by the same
rule introduce dancing, for they went together, as in David's
dancing before the ark, and <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.21.21" parsed="|Judg|21|21|0|0" passage="Jdg 21:21">Judg.
xxi. 21</scripRef>. But, whereas many scriptures in the New
Testament keep up singing as a gospel-ordinance, none provide for
the keeping up of music and dancing; the gospel-canon for psalmody
is to <i>sing with the spirit</i> and <i>with the
understanding.</i> 4. What opportunities must be taken for praising
God, none must be let slip, but particularly, (1.) We must praise
God in public, in the <i>solemn assembly</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.1" parsed="|Ps|149|1|0|0" passage="Ps 149:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), <i>in the congregation of
saints.</i> The more the better; it is the more like heaven. Thus
God's name must be owned before the world; thus the service must
have a solemnity put upon it, and we must mutually excite one
another to it. The principle, end, and design of our coming
together in religious assemblies is that we may join together in
praising God. Other parts of the service must be in order to this.
(2.) We must praise him in private. <i>Let the saints</i> be so
transported with their joy in God as to <i>sing aloud upon their
beds,</i> when they awake in the night, full of the praises of God,
as David, <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.62" parsed="|Ps|119|62|0|0" passage="Ps 119:62">Ps. cxix. 62</scripRef>.
When God's Israel are brought to a quiet settlement, let them enjoy
that, with thankfulness to God; much more may true believers, that
have entered into God's rest, and find repose in Jesus Christ, sing
aloud for joy of that. Upon their sick-beds, their death-beds, let
them sing the praises of their God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cl-p5">II. The cause given to God's Israel for
praise. Consider, 1. God's doings for them. They have reason to
rejoice in God, to devote themselves to his honour and employ
themselves in his service; for it is he that made them. He gave us
our being as men, and we have reason to praise him for that, for it
is a noble and excellent being. He gave Israel their being as a
people, as a church, made them what they were, so very different
from other nations. Let that people therefore praise him, for he
formed them for himself, on purpose that they might <i>show forth
his praise,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.43.21" parsed="|Isa|43|21|0|0" passage="Isa 43:21">Isa. xliii.
21</scripRef>. Let Israel <i>rejoice in his Makers</i> (so it is in
the original); for God said, <i>Let us make man;</i> and in this,
some think, is the mystery of the Trinity. 2. God's dominion over
them. This follows upon the former: if he made them, he is their
King; he that gave being no doubt may give law; and this ought to
be the matter of our joy and praise that we are under the conduct
and protection of such a wise and powerful King. <i>Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion! for behold thy king comes,</i> the
king Messiah, whom God has <i>set upon his holy hill of Zion;</i>
let all the children of Zion <i>be joyful</i> in him, and go forth
to meet him with their hosannas, <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Zech.9.9" parsed="|Zech|9|9|0|0" passage="Zec 9:9">Zech.
ix. 9</scripRef>. 3. God's delight in them. He is a king that rules
by love, and therefore to be praised; for <i>the Lord takes
pleasure in his people,</i> in their services, in their prosperity,
in communion with them, and in the communications of his favour to
them. He that is infinitely happy in the enjoyment of himself, and
to whose felicity no accession can be made, yet graciously
condescends to <i>take pleasure in his people,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.147.11" parsed="|Ps|147|11|0|0" passage="Ps 147:11">Ps. cxlvii. 11</scripRef>. 4. God's designs
concerning them. Besides the present complacency he has in them, he
has prepared for their future glory: <i>He will beautify the
meek,</i> the humble, and lowly, and contrite in heart, that
tremble at his word and submit to it, that are patient under their
afflictions and <i>show all meekness towards all men.</i> These men
vilify and asperse, but God will justify them, and wipe off their
reproach; nay, he will beautify them; they shall appear not only
clear, but comely, before all the world, with the comeliness that
he puts upon them. He will beautify them with salvation, with
temporal salvations (when God works remarkable deliverances for his
people those that had <i>been among the pots become as the wings of
a dove covered with silver,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.13" parsed="|Ps|68|13|0|0" passage="Ps 68:13">Ps.
lxviii. 13</scripRef>), but especially with eternal salvation. The
righteous shall be beautified in that day when they <i>shine forth
as the sun.</i> In the hopes of this, let them now, in the darkest
day, <i>sing a new song.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cl-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.6-Ps.149.9" parsed="|Ps|149|6|149|9" passage="Ps 149:6-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.149.6-Ps.149.9">
<h4 id="Ps.cl-p5.6">Israel Admonished to Praise
God.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cl-p6">6 <i>Let</i> the high <i>praises</i> of God
<i>be</i> in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
  7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, <i>and</i>
punishments upon the people;   8 To bind their kings with
chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;   9 To execute
upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints.
Praise ye the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cl-p6.1">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cl-p7">The Israel of God are here represented
triumphing over their enemies, which is both the matter of their
praise (let them give to God the glory of those triumphs) and the
recompence of their praise; those that are truly thankful to God
for their tranquillity shall be blessed with victory. Or it may be
taken as a further expression of their praise (<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.6" parsed="|Ps|149|6|0|0" passage="Ps 149:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): <i>let the high praises of God
be in their mouth,</i> and then, in a holy zeal for his honour, let
them take a <i>two-edged sword in their hand,</i> to fight his
battles against the enemies of his kingdom. Now this may be
applied, 1. To the many victories which God blessed his people
Israel with over the nations of Canaan and other nations that were
devoted to destruction. These began in Moses and Joshua, who, when
they taught Israel <i>the high praises of the Lord,</i> did withal
put <i>a two-edged sword in their hand;</i> David did so too, for,
as he was the sweet singer of Israel, so he was the captain of
their hosts, and taught the children of Judah the use of the bow
(<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.1.18" parsed="|2Sam|1|18|0|0" passage="2Sa 1:18">2 Sam. i. 18</scripRef>), taught
their hands to war, as God had taught his. Thus he and they went on
victoriously, fighting the Lord's battles, and avenging Israel's
quarrels on those that had oppressed them; then they <i>executed
vengeance upon the heathen</i> (the Philistines, Moabites,
Ammonites, and others, <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.8.1" parsed="|2Sam|8|1|0|0" passage="2Sa 8:1">2 Sam. viii.
1</scripRef>, &amp;c.) <i>and punishments upon the people,</i> for
all the wrong they had done to God's people, <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.7" parsed="|Ps|149|7|0|0" passage="Ps 149:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. Their kings and nobles were
taken prisoners (<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.8" parsed="|Ps|149|8|0|0" passage="Ps 149:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>) and on some of them the judgment written was
executed, as by Joshua on the kings of Canaan, by Gideon on the
princes of Midian, by Samuel on Agag. The honour of this redounded
to all the Israel of God; and to him who put it upon them they
return it entirely in their hallelujahs. Jehoshaphat's army had at
the same time <i>the high praises of God in their mouth and a
two-edged sword in their hand,</i> for they went forth to war
singing the praises of God, and then their sword did execution,
<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.20.23" parsed="|2Chr|20|23|0|0" passage="2Ch 20:23">2 Chron. xx. 23</scripRef>. Some
apply it to the time of the Maccabees, when the Jews sometimes
gained great advantages against their oppressors. And if it seem
strange that the meek should, notwithstanding that character, be
thus severe, and upon kings and nobles too, here is one word that
justifies them in it; it is <i>the judgment written.</i> They do
not do it from any personal malice and revenge, or any bloody
politics that they govern themselves by, but by commission from
God, according to his direction, and in obedience to his command;
and Saul lost his kingdom for disobeying a command of this nature.
Thus the kings of the earth that shall be employed in the
destruction of the New-Testament Babylon will but <i>execute the
judgment written,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Rev.17.16-Rev.17.17" parsed="|Rev|17|16|17|17" passage="Re 17:16,17">Rev. xvii.
16, 17</scripRef>. But, since now no such special commissions can
be produced, this will by no means justify the violence either of
subjects against their princes or of princes against their
subjects, or both against their neighbours, under pretence of
religion; for Christ never intended that his gospel should be
propagated by fire and sword or his righteousness wrought by the
wrath of man. When the high praises of God are in our mouth with
them we should have an olive-branch of peace in our hands. 2. To
Christ's victories by the power of his gospel and grace over
spiritual enemies, in which all believers are more than conquerors.
The word of God is the <i>two-edged sword</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Heb.4.12" parsed="|Heb|4|12|0|0" passage="Heb 4:12">Heb. iv. 12</scripRef>), the <i>sword of the Spirit</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.9" osisRef="Bible:Eph.6.17" parsed="|Eph|6|17|0|0" passage="Eph 6:17">Eph. vi. 17</scripRef>), which it is
not enough to have in our armoury, we must have it in our hand
also, as our Master had, when he said, <i>It is written.</i> Now,
(1.) With this two-edged sword the first preachers of the gospel
obtained a glorious victory over the powers of darkness; vengeance
was executed upon the gods of the heathen, by the conviction and
conversion of those that had been long their worshippers, and by
the consternation and confusion of those that would not repent
(<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.10" osisRef="Bible:Rev.6.15" parsed="|Rev|6|15|0|0" passage="Re 6:15">Rev. vi. 15</scripRef>); the
strongholds of Satan were cast down (<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.11" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.10.4-2Chr.10.5" parsed="|2Chr|10|4|10|5" passage="2Ch 10:4,5">2 Chron. x. 4, 5</scripRef>); great men were made to
tremble at the word, as Felix; Satan, the god of this world, was
cast out, according to the judgment given against him. <i>This</i>
is the honour of all Christians, that their holy religion has been
so victorious. (2.) With this two-edged sword believers fight
against their own corruptions, and, through the grace of God,
subdue and mortify them; the sin that had dominion over them is
crucified; self, that once sat king, is bound with chains and
brought into subjection to the yoke of Christ; the tempter is
foiled and bruised under their feet. <i>This honour have all the
saints.</i> (3.) The complete accomplishment of this will be in the
judgment of the great day, when <i>the Lord</i> shall come <i>with
ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.12" osisRef="Bible:Jude.1.14-Jude.1.15" parsed="|Jude|1|14|1|15" passage="Jude 1:14,15">Jude 14, 15</scripRef>. Vengeance
shall then be <i>executed upon the heathen</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.17" parsed="|Ps|9|17|0|0" passage="Ps 9:17">Ps. ix. 17</scripRef>), <i>and punishments,</i>
everlasting punishments, <i>upon the people. Kings and nobles,</i>
that cast away the bands and cords of Christ's government
(<scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.14" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.3" parsed="|Ps|2|3|0|0" passage="Ps 2:3">Ps. ii. 3</scripRef>), shall not be
able to cast away the chains and fetters of his wrath and justice.
Then shall be executed <i>the judgment written,</i> for <i>the
secrets of men shall be judged according to the gospel. This</i>
honour shall all the saints have, that, as assessors with Christ,
they shall <i>judge the world,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cl-p7.15" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.6.2" parsed="|1Cor|6|2|0|0" passage="1Co 6:2">1
Cor. vi. 2</scripRef>. In the prospect of that let them praise the
Lord, and continue Christ's faithful servants and soldiers to the
end of their lives.</p>
</div></div2>