Songs of the Faithful
Opening Prayer
God, You are worthy of all praise! You are marvelous and all Your ways are good.
Read PSALM 149:1-9
[1] Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. [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 timbrel and harp. [4] For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. [5] Let his faithful people 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 faithful people. Praise the LORD. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does this psalm challenge you to expand worship?Psalm 149 anticipates the people of God gathered in corporate worship–“the assembly of his faithful people”–singing his praise (1).This is described in more detail in verses 2 to 5, where it’s worth reflecting on the different ways praise is expressed, and the various designations and descriptions of the one to whom it’s addressed–our “Maker” and “King” (2), our “Lord” (4). How are we to praise God, and what do we praise him for? In the second part of the psalm (6-9), it looks as if the hope is expressed that Israel will execute God’s judgment on others with “the praise of God… in their mouths” (6)! Strange though this may sound to our ears, those who worship God are also called to live out his rule in the world, which may well involve struggling against all that is opposed to his authority. From a New Testament perspective, we do so in the light of the victory already won by Christ (Col. 2:15), and by putting on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10-20). Here is a celebration that one day the enemies of God will finally be defeated and justice will be delivered.
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