Psalm 149 - A Victory Celebration

Psalm 149 is known as a victory celebration.  The author, who is not known, shares with us that we have the assurance that God truly enjoys his people.

Although the Bible invites us to praise God, we often are not sure how to go about it.  In verses 3-5, several ways are suggested - in the dance, with the voice, with musical instruments. God enjoys his people, and we should enjoy praising him!

In verses 6 and 7, we read about a double-edged sword.  This symbolizes the completeness of judgment that will be executed by the Messiah when he returns to punish all evildoers.

Psalm 149 / New International Version

¹ Praise the Lord.

 

Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the saints.

 

² Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
    let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
³ Let them praise his name with dancing
    and make music to him with tambourine and harp.
⁴ For the Lord takes delight in his people;
    he crowns the humble with salvation.
⁵ Let the saints rejoice in this honor
    and sing for joy on their beds.

 

⁶ May the praise of God be in their mouths
    and a double-edged sword in their hands,
⁷ to inflict vengeance on the nations
    and punishment on the peoples,
⁸ to bind their kings with fetters,
    their nobles with shackles of iron,
⁹ to carry out the sentence written against them—
    this is the glory of all his saints.

 

Praise the Lord.