Psalms 149

The scope and design of this Psalm is to stir up and encourage Gods people to praise him, either 1. for their deliverance out of Babylon, and the promises which God had given them of the perfection of that work and of the enlargement of their power and dominion in the world: or rather, 2. for the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel in Davids hands, and for that safety and glory and victory over their enemies which they expected by that means. But withal, the Psalmist, or the Spirit of God which dictated this Psalm to him, had a further prospect, even to the Messiah, of whom David was a Type, and who was to succeed David in the Throne, and to bring that Kingdom to its highest perfection. And so divers of the Jewish Doctors understand this Psalm.

PRaise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song For these new mercies conferred upon us, denied to former times.: and his praise in the congregation of saints.

Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him That made them not only his creatures, but, which is unspeakably greater, his people: or, that advanced and adorned them with singular priviledges, as this word is used, 1 Sam. 12. 6. and elsewhere.: let the children of Zion be joyful in their king David and his posterity, and especially the chief of all of them, the Messiah. Let them rejoyce and bless God that they have so potent, so wise, and so just a King..

Let them praise his Name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp According to the usage of that time and dispensation..

For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people He loveth them above all people, and rejoyceth over them to do them good.: he will beautifie Heb. adorn or glorifie, make them amiable and honourable in the eyes of the world, who now hate and despise them. the meek Or, humble, to wit, his people, as he now said, who are oft in Scripture described by that character, because all true Israelites are such, and all Israelites profess and ought to be such. Or, the afflicted, as that word is oft used in Scripture, which has been observed before, his poor afflicted and oppressed people, to whom the following salvation is most needful and acceptable. with salvation Both temporal, in delivering them from, and setting them above, all their enemies, and afterwards, with everlasting salvation and glory..

Let the saints be joyful in glory For the honour which God putteth upon them.: let them sing aloud upon their beds Either, 1. for their safe and sweet repose and peace, which is signified by resting in beds, Isa. 57. 2. or, 2. by night as well as by day, even in the time devoted to rest and sleep, which they shall borrow to praise God for his eminent and extraordinary blessings, as David frequently did upon such occasions..

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth Heb. in their throat. Which signifies vocal praise, and that with a loud voice., and a two-edged sword in their hand Not only to defend themselves from their enemies, but, as it follows, to revenge themselves upon them.

To execute vengeance upon the heathen For all their cruelties and injuries towards Gods people. This was literally accomplished by David upon the Philistines, Ammonites, Syrians, and other neighbouring Nations and Princes, which were bitter enemies to Gods people. And the same thing was done afterward in the Christian world, when God raised up Christian Princes, who did by the help of the Christians fighting with and under them, severely revenge the blood of the martyred Christians upon their cruel Persecutors and Tyrants in divers ages. It may also be understood of the spiritual plagues which Christ by the hand or ministry of his Apostles and Ministers did inflict upon the hearts and consciences of his incorrigible enemies, who by Gods word and ordinances were either tormented or hardned to their destruction. Yea it may have a respect unto the last day of judgment, in which the Saints shall judge the world, 1 Cor. 6. 2. which will be a most dreadful execution of this vengeance, &c., and punishments upon the people.

To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron Of which see the Note on the foregoing verse..

To execute upon them the judgment written Appointed and declared in the holy Scripture, as Deut. 12. 32. & 29. 19. & 32. 41, 42, 43. and elsewhere. This is added to show that they do not this work to satisfie their own malicious or revengeful inclinations, but in obedience to Gods commands, and only in such manner as God has allowed in his word.: this honour have all his saints The honour of these actions belongs to all the Saints, for whose sakes God appointed this in his word, and afterwards executed it by his providence.. Praise ye the LORD.