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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM CXLIX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The foregoing psalm was a hymn of praise to the Creator; this is a hymn
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of praise to the Redeemer. It is a psalm of triumph in the God of
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Israel, and over the enemies of Israel. Probably it was penned upon
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occasion of some victory which Israel was blessed and honoured with.
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Some conjecture that it was penned when David had taken the strong-hold
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of Zion, and settled his government there. But it looks further, to the
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kingdom of the Messiah, who, in the chariot of the everlasting gospel,
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goes forth conquering and to conquer. To him, and his graces and
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glories, we must have an eye, in singing this psalm, which proclaims,
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I. Abundance of joy to all the people of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. Abundance of terror to the proudest of their enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:6-9">ver. 6-9</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps149_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps149_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps149_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps149_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps149_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Saints Admonished to Praise God.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Praise ye the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>. Sing unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> a new song, <I>and</I> his
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praise in the congregation of saints.
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2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of
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Zion be joyful in their King.
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3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises
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unto him with the timbrel and harp.
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4 For the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify
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the meek with salvation.
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5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon
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their beds.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The calls given to God's Israel to praise. <I>All his works</I>
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were, in the foregoing psalm, excited to <I>praise him;</I> but here
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his saints in a particular manner are required to bless him. Observe
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then,
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1. Who are called upon to praise God. <I>Israel</I> in general, the
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body of the church
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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<I>the children of Zion</I> particularly, the inhabitants of that holy
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hill, who are nearer to God than other Israelites; those that have the
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word and ordinances of God near to them, that are not required to
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travel far to them, are justly expected to do more in praising God than
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others. All true Christians may call themselves <I>the children of
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Zion,</I> for in faith and hope <I>we have come unto Mount Zion,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:22">Heb. xii. 22</A>.
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The saints must praise God, saints in profession, saints in power, for
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this is the intention of their sanctification; they are devoted to the
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glory of God, and renewed by the grace of God, that <I>they may be unto
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him for a name and a praise.</I>
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2. What must be the principle of this praise, and that is holy joy in
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God: <I>Let Israel rejoice,</I> and <I>the children of Zion be
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joyful,</I> and <I>the saints be joyful in glory.</I> Our praises of
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God should flow from a heart filled with delight and triumph in God's
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attributes, and our relation to him. Much of the power of godliness in
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the heart consists in making God our chief joy and solacing ourselves
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in him; and our faith in Christ is described by our rejoicing in him.
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We then give honour to God when we take pleasure in him. We must <I>be
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joyful in glory,</I> that is, in him as our glory, and in the interest
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we have in him; and let us look upon it as our glory to be of those
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that rejoice in God.
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3. What must be the expressions of this praise. We must by all proper
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ways show forth the praises of God: <I>Sing to the Lord.</I> We must
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entertain ourselves, and proclaim his name, by <I>singing praises to
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him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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<I>singing aloud</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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for we should sing psalms with all our heart, as those that are not
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only not ashamed of it, but are enlarged in it. We must sing a <I>new
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song,</I> newly composed upon every special occasion, sing with new
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affections, which make the song new, though the words have been used
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before, and keep them from growing threadbare. Let God be <I>praised in
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the dance with timbrel and harp,</I> according to the usage of the
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Old-Testament church very early
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+15:20">Exod. xv. 20</A>),
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where we find God praised with <I>timbrels and dances.</I> Those who
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from this urge the use of music in religious worship must by the same
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rule introduce dancing, for they went together, as in David's dancing
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before the ark, and
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+21:21">Judg. xxi. 21</A>.
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But, whereas many scriptures in the New Testament keep up singing as a
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gospel-ordinance, none provide for the keeping up of music and dancing;
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the gospel-canon for psalmody is to <I>sing with the spirit</I> and
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<I>with the understanding.</I>
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4. What opportunities must be taken for praising God, none must be let
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slip, but particularly,
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(1.) We must praise God in public, in the <I>solemn assembly</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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<I>in the congregation of saints.</I> The more the better; it is the
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more like heaven. Thus God's name must be owned before the world; thus
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the service must have a solemnity put upon it, and we must mutually
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excite one another to it. The principle, end, and design of our coming
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together in religious assemblies is that we may join together in
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praising God. Other parts of the service must be in order to this.
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(2.) We must praise him in private. <I>Let the saints</I> be so
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transported with their joy in God as to <I>sing aloud upon their
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beds,</I> when they awake in the night, full of the praises of God, as
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David,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:62">Ps. cxix. 62</A>.
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When God's Israel are brought to a quiet settlement, let them enjoy
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that, with thankfulness to God; much more may true believers, that have
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entered into God's rest, and find repose in Jesus Christ, sing aloud
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for joy of that. Upon their sick-beds, their death-beds, let them sing
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the praises of their God.</P>
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<P>
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II. The cause given to God's Israel for praise. Consider,
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1. God's doings for them. They have reason to rejoice inn God, to
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devote themselves to his honour and employ themselves in his service;
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for it is he that made them. He gave us our being as men, and we have
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reason to praise him for that, for it is a noble and excellent being.
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He gave Israel their being as a people, as a church, made them what
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they were, so very different from other nations. Let that people
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therefore praise him, for he formed them for himself, on purpose that
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they might <I>show forth his praise,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+43:21">Isa. xliii. 21</A>.
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Let Israel <I>rejoice in his Makers</I> (so it is in the original); for
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God said, <I>Let us make man;</I> and in this, some think, is the
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mystery of the Trinity.
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2. God's dominion over them. This follows upon the former: if he made
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them, he is their King; he that gave being no doubt may give law; and
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this ought to be the matter of our joy and praise that we are under the
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conduct and protection of such a wise and powerful King. <I>Rejoice
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greatly, O daughter of Zion! for behold thy king comes,</I> the king
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Messiah, whom God has <I>set upon his holy hill of Zion;</I> let all
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the children of Zion <I>be joyful</I> in him, and go forth to meet him
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with their hosannas,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+9:9">Zech. ix. 9</A>.
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3. God's delight in them. He is a king that rules by love, and
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therefore to be praised; for <I>the Lord takes pleasure in his
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people,</I> in their services, in their prosperity, in communion with
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them, and in the communications of his favour to them. He that is
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infinitely happy in the enjoyment of himself, and to whose felicity no
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accession can be made, yet graciously condescends to <I>take pleasure
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in his people,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:11">Ps. cxlvii. 11</A>.
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4. God's designs concerning them. Besides the present complacency he
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has in them, he has prepared for their future glory: <I>He will
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beautify the meek,</I> the humble, and lowly, and contrite in heart,
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that tremble at his word and submit to it, that are patient under their
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afflictions and <I>show all meekness towards all men.</I> These men
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vilify and asperse, but God will justify them, and wipe off their
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reproach; nay, he will beautify them; they shall appear not only clear,
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but comely, before all the world, with the comeliness that he puts upon
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them. He will beautify them with salvation, with temporal salvations
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(when God works remarkable deliverances for his people those that had
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<I>been among the pots become as the wings of a dove covered with
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silver,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:13">Ps. lxviii. 13</A>),
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but especially with eternal salvation. The righteous shall be
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beautified in that day when they <I>shine forth as the sun.</I> In the
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hopes of this, let them now, in the darkest day, <I>sing a new
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song.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Ps149_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps149_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps149_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps149_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Israel Admonished to Praise God.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 <I>Let</I> the high <I>praises</I> of God <I>be</I> in their mouth, and a
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twoedged sword in their hand;
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7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, <I>and</I> punishments upon
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the people;
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8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with
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fetters of iron;
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9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have
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all his saints. Praise ye the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The Israel of God are here represented triumphing over their enemies,
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which is both the matter of their praise (let them give to God the
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glory of those triumphs) and the recompence of their praise; those that
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are truly thankful to God for their tranquillity shall be blessed with
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victory. Or it may be taken as a further expression of their praise
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>let the high praises of God be in their mouth,</I> and then, in a
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holy zeal for his honour, let them take a <I>two-edged sword in their
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hand,</I> to fight his battles against the enemies of his kingdom. Now
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this may be applied,
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1. To the many victories which God blessed his people Israel with over
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the nations of Canaan and other nations that were devoted to
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destruction. These began in Moses and Joshua, who, when they taught
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Israel <I>the high praises of the Lord,</I> did withal put <I>a
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two-edged sword in their hand;</I> David did so too, for, as he was the
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sweet singer of Israel, so he was the captain of their hosts, and
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taught the children of Judah the use of the bow
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+1:18">2 Sam. i. 18</A>),
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taught their hands to war, as God had taught his. Thus he and they
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went on victoriously, fighting the Lord's battles, and avenging
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Israel's quarrels on those that had oppressed them; then they
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<I>executed vengeance upon the heathen</I> (the Philistines, Moabites,
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Ammonites, and others,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+8:1">2 Sam. viii. 1</A>,
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&c.) <I>and punishments upon the people,</I> for all the wrong they had
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done to God's people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Their kings and nobles were taken prisoners
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
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and on some of them the judgment written was executed, as by Joshua on
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the kings of Canaan, by Gideon on the princes of Midian, by Samuel on
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Agag. The honour of this redounded to all the Israel of God; and to him
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who put it upon them they return it entirely in their hallelujahs.
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Jehoshaphat's army had at the same time <I>the high praises of God in
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their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand,</I> for they went
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forth to war singing the praises of God, and then their sword did
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execution,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+20:23">2 Chron. xx. 23</A>.
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Some apply it to the time of the Maccabees, when the Jews sometimes
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gained great advantages against their oppressors. And if it seem
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strange that the meek should, notwithstanding that character, be thus
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severe, and upon kings and nobles too, here is one word that justifies
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them in it; it is <I>the judgment written.</I> They do not do it from
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any personal malice and revenge, or any bloody politics that they
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govern themselves by, but by commission from God, according to his
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direction, and in obedience to his command; and Saul lost his kingdom
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for disobeying a command of this nature. Thus the kings of the earth
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that shall be employed in the destruction of the New-Testament Babylon
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will but <I>execute the judgment written,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+17:16,17">Rev. xvii. 16, 17</A>.
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But, since now no such special commissions can be produced, this will
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by no means justify the violence either of subjects against their
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princes or of princes against their subjects, or both against their
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neighbours, under pretence of religion; for Christ never intended that
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his gospel should be propagated by fire and sword or his righteousness
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wrought by the wrath of man. When the high praises of God are in our
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mouth with them we should have an olive-branch of peace in our hands.
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2. To Christ's victories by the power of his gospel and grace over
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spiritual enemies, in which all believers are more than conquerors. The
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word of God is the <I>two-edged sword</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+4:12">Heb. iv. 12</A>),
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the <I>sword of the Spirit</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:17">Eph. vi. 17</A>),
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which it is not enough to have in our armoury, we must have it in our
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hand also, as our Master had, when he said, <I>It is written.</I> Now,
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(1.) With this two-edged sword the first preachers of the gospel
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obtained a glorious victory over the powers of darkness; vengeance was
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executed upon the gods of the heathen, by the conviction and conversion
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of those that had been long their worshippers, and by the consternation
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and confusion of those that would not repent
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+6:15">Rev. vi. 15</A>);
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the strongholds of Satan were cast down
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+10:4,5">2 Chron. x. 4, 5</A>);
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great men were made to tremble at the word, as Felix; Satan, the god of
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this world, was cast out, according to the judgment given against him.
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<I>This</I> is the honour of all Christians, that their holy religion
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has been so victorious.
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(2.) With this two-edged sword believers fight against their own
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corruptions, and, through the grace of God, subdue and mortify them;
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the sin that had dominion over them is crucified; self, that once sat
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king, is bound with chains and brought into subjection to the yoke of
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Christ; the tempter is foiled and bruised under their feet. <I>This
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honour have all the saints.</I>
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(3.) The complete accomplishment of this will be in the judgment of the
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great day, when <I>the Lord</I> shall come <I>with ten thousands of his
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saints, to execute judgment upon all,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:14,15">Jude 14, 15</A>.
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Vengeance shall then be <I>executed upon the heathen</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:17">Ps. ix. 17</A>),
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<I>and punishments,</I> everlasting punishments, <I>upon the people.
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Kings and nobles,</I> that cast away the bands and cords of Christ's
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government
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:3">Ps. ii. 3</A>),
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shall not be able to cast away the chains and fetters of his wrath and
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justice. Then shall be executed <I>the judgment written,</I> for <I>the
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secrets of men shall be judged according to the gospel. This</I>
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honour shall all the saints have, that, as assessors with Christ, they
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shall <I>judge the world,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:2">1 Cor. vi. 2</A>.
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In the prospect of that let them praise the Lord, and continue Christ's
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faithful servants and soldiers to the end of their lives.</P>
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