Psalm 149:9

I. The saints are in this Psalm described as meek-hearted.

The way to the highest glory is to be very quiet and humble.

"The Lord hath pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation."

II. The next verses go on to describe more exactly the beauty and brightness of the saints' marvellous salvation. They are to be filled with all joy and glory, but how? Not, as the honoured ones of this world, with a great noise and show of outward things; but they shall rejoice and "sing aloud upon their beds." It seems to say that one great privilege of the saints, one of the principal ways in which Almighty God prepares them for the great works which He has for them to do, is the putting good thoughts and good words into their minds in quiet and secret, when they are alone and unemployed, or lying awake upon their beds.

III. In the remainder of the Psalm we have a picture of the great war which is for ever going on between our Lord Christ and His saints on the one hand and this present evil world on the other. As warriors go out to battle with music and songs of encouragement, so the saints go out into the world with the high praises of God in their mouth. Besides, they have His two-edged sword in their hands. St. Paul tells us what this sword is; it is "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" therefore it is represented as coming out of Christ's mouth. Not by outward wars and fightings, but by its inward and searching power in men's hearts, did the sword of Christ, borne by His saints, accomplish those great triumphs which are spoken of in the end of the Psalm.

J. Keble, Sermons for the Christian Year: Saints' Days and Other Festivals, p. 444.