Psalm 149
The background for this psalm is likely a victory in war, a victory that resulted anothere new and beautiful song of praise to the Lord. The song urges Israel to continue this praising of her Lord, to go on singing about His goodness not only on this occasion but on the occasion of each and every future triumph as well.
It urges them to do do it oraising with all their might. They're urged to express it in dance and with timbrel, and harp – because a people so blessed that the Lord God Almighty "takes pleasure" in them should indeed be very expressive! If they're truly His people, if they stand in awe of His mercy and grace, if they bow low before Him in reverential fear and love – then He responds by "beautifying" their humility with salvation in battle!
So when these people of God are feeling secure, when they lie upon their own beds and in their own homes – especially then - they should spontaneously "shout" to God in praise for such security, love, and comfort. In fact, it should be a constant thing, and "the high praises of God" should always be "in their mouths." In other words, they should make it a habit to be "joyful in glory," the glory of their Lord.
Along with heartfelt verbal praise, however, they should also keep in mind that they themselves are the instruments God will use to accomplish the victories they enjoy. So they must always keep "a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples so as to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgement!" The people of God always need to remember that they are not their own, but that they are His servants. Whether in war or in peace they are always doing His work. Victory isn't to their glory, but it is to His glory. He is doing His work through them.
This song should certainly be sung by Christ's Church today as well. But the problem is that our awareness is so lacking - we just don't realize that we're in a war, even though it's being fought at times in our own souls! But if we love our God and serve Him in this world, then there are and will be many battles, battles that can only be won by His grace – though it uses our hands, our minds, and our hearts.
Are you willing to be in that war, the war for righteousness? Are you so willing that you'll give up some comforts, some ease, some pleeasures – to be His instruments to fight those battles? Do you realize His sovereign grace in each victory? "Let the high praises of God" be in your mouth!
Oops!
"So they should alsways keep"
"to execute on them the written judgement!"
One more time - THANKS!
You're so welcome!
We've finished Psalm 150 now and now we're going back to 119.
That's the recomended procedure - Ps. 119 is like a separate book of the Bible rather than one of the psalms. I am personally convinced that it was like a lower-grades schoolbook, used to teach the letters of the alphabet along with spiritual lessons as well.