Read Psalm 149

This is a new song!

Psalm 149 is number four of five psalms referred to as the “Hallelujah Psalms.” But the author is calling us to sing a new song!

The phrase “Praise the LORD “is translated from the Hebrew word Halleluyah (Hallelujah/Halleluiah). Hallelu– means praise and Yah- is a shortened form of Yahweh (YHWH). Yahweh translated as “LORD” in all caps in the Old Testament is the most sacred name of God and so revered that Jews didn’t (and many still don’t) say it out loud. In the Complete Jewish Bible (see below), Yahweh is replaced with Adonai (My Lord),

Halleluyah! Sing to Adonai a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Tehillim (Psalm) 149:1 CJB

Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.
Psalm 149:1 NLT

These “Hallelujah Psalms” begin and end with Hallelu Yah or Praise the LORD!

Psalm 149 is titled in some translations- Sing to the LORD a New Song (ESV); Praise the God of Israel (ICB); Praise to God for His Salvation and Judgment (NKJV); Israel Invoked to Praise the LORD (NASB); among others.

But in this song, there is praise and there is violence, there is thanksgiving and there is vengeance.

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.

Matthew Henry, English minister, 1662-1714

First: the praise.

What does it mean to praise the Lord? Is praise the same thing as worship? Does it just mean lifting hands and singing?

Praise is worship, raising hands and singing. But it is also so much more.

Praise does not just happen on Sundays. It is not solely available in church, and it is not always outward and loud. Sometimes praise is quiet and introspective. Sometimes praise is reflecting and listening.

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:21-25

Is waiting quietly for the Lord also a form of praise? To listen for His voice? To stop and feel His presence? To sit in awe of His love and mercy? Praise is the release of love and joy and honor from the heart of the created to the Creator in whatever form that may take.

O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King. Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.
Psalm 149:2-5 NLT

Why is there always so much talk about worship and praise, and why do churches spend the first half hour of service every week doing it? For one, the world will seek to distract us, to knock us down, make us feel unworthy and unloved. But praise focuses the heart back onto what is important and all that we need.

And secondly, we praise the Lord because He is our Creator. Our Maker. The Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in the earth. Yahweh is, was, and always will be. He holds all of creation in the palm of His hand.

Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
Isaiah 40:12 NLT

All of creation worships its Creator. We can look around and see the beauty in the universe, the sun and the moon, rejoice in new life, but all of it already sings praise to God, the Creator. And so should we.

Not only did God create all, but He has measured the heavens with His fingers, and He knows the weight of the mountains.

Yet, hear this Truth from Jesus as recorded in John’s gospel,

Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father's name. But you don't believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."
John 10:28-20 NLT

God has measured the heavens, but He holds you in His hand. And no one can snatch you away.

Praise the Lord. Hallelu Yah.

Sing praise. Exult/rejoice/be glad in your Maker, Creator, and King. Dance and make music. Sing His praise because of who He is. Quietly listen for His voice in your life and reflect upon His great love and mercy poured out for you each and every day.

The LORD is pleased with his people. He saves those who are not proud. Let those who worship him rejoice in his glory. Let them sing for joy even in bed!
Psalm 149:4-5 ICB

It pleases the Lord for His children to praise Him, even from bed! Sometimes the nights are times when we feel far away from God, when nightmares or worries creep in. Let Psalm 149 be a reminder that God understands this and has a solution . . . continue to sing His praises even in bed.

Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands- to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones.

Praise the LORD!
Psalm 149:6-9 NLT

Secondly: vengeance.

The people of Israel were called to praise the Lord with their mouths and to keep a sharpened sword in hand to do God’s will. We are not called to hold a real sword, but when we praise the Lord are we also ready to do whatever He asks? Or is it easier to praise and thank the Lord, then ignore His command of faithfulness or to run from sin or to love a neighbor?

The Israelites were ready to do God’s will with their sharpened swords. We are not called this way, but God’s word has also been called “the sword of the Spirit.” Do you know and wield the sword of the spirit? The word of God is Truth- love, healing, redemption, strength, joy, peace . . . what would you add to my list?

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

Jesus is called the Word of God (John 1:1) and when He speaks, that Word comes from His mouth like a sharp double-edged sword which He will someday wield as word and as weapon.

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.
Revelation 19:11-15

To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people. This was once literally the duty of Israel: when they came into Canaan they fulfilled the righteous sentence of the Lord upon guilty nations. At this house, under the gentler dispensation of grace, we wrestle not with flesh and blood; yet is our warfare none the less stern, and our victory none the less sure.

Charles Spurgeon, English preacher, 1834-1892

Praise from the saints and the sharp, double-edged sword of the Word of God will change the world. If this is how you live, others will come to know Him. Even today, if we praise the Lord with our lips and stand sure upon the Truth of God’s Word, the nations will come to know Him. Another reason to praise.

Some commentators point out that these verses have been and can be misused by those whose hearts are already led astray. The call to violence was Israel’s and Israel’s alone. Our call is this,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:12-13

We praise our God after another fashion; we are not executioners of justice, but heralds of mercy.

Charles Spurgeon, English preacher, 1834-1892

Hallelu Yah

Praise the LORD.

Father in heaven, thank you for this beautiful little Halleluyah psalm. Thank you for your word that we can hold in our hands and that gives us the strength and peace to face each day. Help us to know your word and to lean on the truth of your love. May we praise loudly and wield the sword of truth so that all around us will come to know you too. Thank you for your faithfulness. We love you. Amen

Heidi xoxo