◄ Psalm 149:6 ►
May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a double-edged sword in their hands,
Sermons
Song and StrokeR. Tuck Psalm 149:6
Cumulative PraisePsalm 149:1-9
The Song of the SaintsD. Dickson.Psalm 149:1-9














Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
Song And Stroke
Psalm 149:6
R. Tuck
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their handy The age when such a psalm was most likely to be produced was undoubtedly that of the Maccabees, and the coincidence between this verse and 2 Macc. 15:27 may indicate the very series of events amid which, with hymns of praise in their throats, and a two-edged sword in their hand, the chasidim in battle after battle claimed and won the honor of executing vengeance on Jehovah's foes." Illustration may be taken also from Nehemiah's providing the workmen engaged on the wall with a weapon as well as a tool. But in that case the weapon was for defensive purposes only. The point here is that the sword was for active and aggressive work against the foes of God and the nation; such foes as were the Syrians in the days of the Maccabees.

I. GOD'S WORK IN THE WORLD CALLS FOR STROKE AS WELL AS SONG. It is quite true that the weapons of our warfare are "not carnal;" but they are weapons, and they are for a warfare. There is some danger of overdoing the peaceful and submissive side of the Christian religion. There are many evils, and especially those of a private and personal character, which can best - perhaps can only - be met and conquered by submission. But there are other evils, and especially those of a public character, which must be actively dealt with in a spirit of war. For them the servant of God must have strokes - stroke upon stroke. The two injunctions can be, and must be, observed - "Resist not evil;" "Resist the devil." The spirit of the soldier should be in every Christian. (Illustrate by F. W. Robertson of Brighton.)

II. GOD'S WORK OF "STROKE" IS NEVER RIGHTLY DONE SAVE AS WE KEEP THE SOUL OF SONG. That keeps us from a wrong spirit in doing what so easily arouses a bad spirit. The song in our soul shows we are only God's servants; and it keeps us reminded that even in doing stern things we are only doing good, trying to waken song in other souls. - R.T.

Biblical Illustrator
Let the saints be joyful in glory.
Psalm 149:5
The saints in glory
G. Robson.
I. THEIR NAME. "Saints."

1. Because they are separated. Not the world, or the god of this world, but the God who made and redeemed them, is their Master and Lord; God's service is their service; God's will is their law; God's Word is their rule.

2. Because they are sanctified. By the belief of the truth as it is in Jesus their eyes are turned away from viewing vanities, and are turned towards holy objects of contemplation.

II. THEIR HONOUR. "In glory."

1. The state of glory. Heaven — eternal rest, but not inaction.

2. The place of glory. The holy city is all glorious, "having the glory of God," within, above, and around. Its sky is ever cloudless, its light is ever clear, its sun never sets, and its day never ends.

3. The society of glory.

4. An eternity of glory.

III. THEIR JOYFULNESS.

1. Wholly joyful.

2. All joyful.

3. Ever joyful.

(G. Robson.)

Hallelujah
Once, when the seraphic Samuel Rutherford was preaching, he came ere long to speak on the high praises of the Lord Jesus Christ. That was a theme upon which he was at home, and when he reached that point, and had spoken a little upon it, the Duke of Argyle, who was in the congregation, cried out, "Now you are on the right strain, man; hold on to that."

I. SOME REASONS FOR PRAISE.

1. The delight of God in His people — their prayers, and their praises.

2. The beauty He puts upon His people. This text may be read in three different ways. First, as in our version, "He will beautify the meek with salvation!" Next, "He will beautify the afflicted with deliverance." Hear that, you afflicted ones; jot it down for your comfort. And, next, "He will beautify the meek with victory." The men that cannot fight shall be beautified with victory. When the fighting men and those that stood up for their own rights will find themselves covered with shame, "He will beautify the meek with victory."

II. SPECIAL PHASES OF PRAISE.

1. Glorying in God. By anticipation and by foretaste we have already obtained the life eternal, therefore, "let the saints be joyful in glory." "I cannot get up to that," says one. Try. At any rate, get as far as this: wherever there is grace there will be glory. Grace is the egg, and glory is the hatching of it. Grace is the seed, and glory is the plant that comes out of it. Having the egg and the seed, we have practically and virtually the glory; therefore, "Let the saints be joyful in glory."

2. The next special kind of praise is joy in special circumstances: "Let them sing aloud upon their beds."(1) This is a message for the time of sickness. Praise the Lord when you are ill; sing to His glory when you cannot sleep; sing when the head aches, for that is the highest kind of praise that comes out of the body that is racked with pain. "Let them sing aloud upon their beds."(2) Your bed? Why, that is the place of seclusion! There you are alone. Commune with God upon your beds, and sing His praises, if not aloud with the voice, yet aloud with the heart.(3) Upon your bed? Why, that is the place of domestic gathering; for the bed here meant is a couch, on which the Orientals reclined when they ate. Sing the Lord's praises on your couches; that is, when you gather in your families.(4) The bed of death.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

People
Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Double-edged, Exaltation, Hands, Mouth, Mouths, Praises, Sword, Swords, Throat, Throats, Two-edged
Outline
1. The prophet exhorts to praise God for his love to the church
5. And for that power which he has given to the church

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 149:6

     5167   mouth

Psalm 149:4-9

     1070   God, joy of

Psalm 149:6-8

     5723   nobles

Psalm 149:6-9

     4336   iron
     7155   saints

Library
The Dance
Heinrich Suso Ps. cxlix. 3 To praise Him in the dance! O glorious day! The pilgrim journey done-- No more press forward on the weary way, For all is reached and won! His Hand at last, the Hand once pierced for me, For ever holdeth mine; O Lord, no songs, no harps of heaven wil be Sweet as one word of Thine. Lord, altogether lovely! then at last High shall the guerdon be, Thy kiss outweigh the weary ages past Of hearts that brake for Thee. ...... Yet now I know Thee as the hidden Bread, The living …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

The Millennium in Relation to Sin.
In spite of the fact that Satan will have been removed from the earth, and that Christ reigns in person over it, yet conditions here will not be perfect even in the Millennium. Unregenerate human nature will remain unchanged. Sin will still be present, though much of its outward manifestation will be restrained. Discontent and wickedness will not be eradicated from the hearts of men, but will be kept beneath the surface by means of the Iron Rod. Multitudes will yield to Christ nothing but a "feigned …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

St. Malachy's Apostolic Labours, Praises and Miracles.
[Sidenote: 1140, October] 42. (23). Malachy embarked in a ship, and after a prosperous voyage landed at his monastery of Bangor,[576] so that his first sons might receive the first benefit.[577] In what state of mind do you suppose they were when they received their father--and such a father--in good health from so long a journey? No wonder if their whole heart gave itself over to joy at his return, when swift rumour soon brought incredible gladness even to the tribes[578] outside round about them. …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Wisdom and Revelation.
"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness …
W. H. Griffith Thomas—The Prayers of St. Paul

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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