Psalms 149 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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1Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
PSALM 149
Psa 149:1-9. This Psalm sustains a close connection with the foregoing. The chosen people are exhorted to praise God, in view of past favors, and also future victories over enemies, of which they are impliedly assured.
1. (Compare Psa 96:1).
2Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
2. God had signalized His relation as a sovereign, in restoring them to their land.
3Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
3. in the dance--(Psa 30:11). The dance is connected with other terms, expressive of the great joy of the occasion. The word may be rendered "lute," to which the other instruments are joined.
sing praises--or, sing and play.
4For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
4. taketh pleasure--literally, "accepts," alluding to acceptance of propitiatory offerings (compare Psa 147:11).
beautify, &c.--adorn the humble with faith, hope, joy, and peace.
5Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
5. in glory--the honorable condition to which they are raised.
upon their beds--once a place of mourning (Psa 6:6).
6Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
6. high praises--or, "deeds." They shall go forth as religious warriors, as once religious laborers (Ne 4:17).
7To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
7. The destruction of the incorrigibly wicked attends the propagation of God's truth, so that the military successes of the Jews, after the captivity, typified the triumphs of the Gospel.
8To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
9. the judgment written--either in God's decrees, or perhaps as in De 32:41-43.
this honour--that is, to be thus employed, will be an honorable service, to be assigned
his saints--or, godly ones (Psa 16:3).