Sing unto the Lord a new song - That is, as we have often had occasion to remark, an excellent song, the best we can possibly pronounce. So the word חדש chadash is often understood; and so the word novus, "new," was often used among the Latin writers: - Pollio amat nostram, quamvis sit rustica, musam. Pollio et ipse facit read more
In him that made him - Let them remember in their exultations to give all glory to the Lord; for he is the Author of their being and their blessings. And let them know that he is their King also; that they should submit to his authority, and be guided and regulated in their hearts and conduct by his laws. read more
Let them praise his name in the dance - במחול bemachol , with the pipe, or some kind of wind music, classed here with תף toph , the tabor or drum, and כנור kinnor , the harp." מחול machol ," says Parkhurst, "some fistular wind-instrument of music, with holes, as a flute, pipe, or fife, from חל chal , to make a hole or opening." I know no place in the Bible where מחול machol and מחלת machalath mean dance of any kind; they constantly signify some kind of pipe. read more
The Lord taketh pleasure in his people - The pleasure or good will of God is in his people: he loves them ardently, and will load them with his benefits, while they are humble and thankful; for, He will beautify - יפאר yephaer , he will make fair, the meek, ענוים anavim , the lowly, the humble with salvation, בישועה bishuah ; which St. Jerome thus translates, Et exaltabit mansuetos in Jesu, "And he will exalt the meek in Jesus." Whether this rendering be correct or not, there... read more
Let the saints be joyful in glory - Let them be gloriously joyful: seeing themselves so honored and so successful, let them be joyful. God has put glory or honor upon them; let them give him the thanks due to his name. Sing aloud upon their beds - While they are reclining on their couches. At their festal banquets, let them shout the praises of the Lord. In imitation of this we often have at our public entertainments the following words sung, taken from the Vulgate of Psalm 115:1 ; : ... read more
Let the high praises of God - Let them sing songs the most sublime, with the loudest noise consistent with harmony. And a two-edged sword in their hand - Perhaps there is an allusion here to the manner in which the Jews were obliged to labor in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem: "Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon," Nehemiah 4:17 . The two-edged sword, in Hebrew, is פיפיות pipiyoth , "mouth mouths." read more
To execute vengeance upon the heathen - This may refer simply to their purpose of defending themselves to the uttermost, should their enemies attack them while building their wall: and they had every reason to believe that God would be with them; and that, if their enemies did attack them, they should be able to inflict the severest punishment upon them. Punishments upon the people - The unfaithful and treacherous Jews; for we find that some, even of their nobles, had joined with... read more
To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron - That is, if these kings, governors of provinces, and chiefs among the people, had attacked them, God would have enabled them to defeat them, take their generals prisoners, and lead them in triumph to Jerusalem. It is certain also that in the times of the Maccabees the Jews had many signal victories over the Samaritans, Philistines, and Moabites; and over Antiochus, king of Syria. See the Books of the Maccabees. To these... read more
To execute upon them the judgment written - In Deuteronomy 7:1 , etc., God promises his people complete victory over all their enemies, and over the heathen. God repeatedly promises such victories to his faithful people; and this is, properly speaking, the judgment written, i.e., foretold. This honor have all his saints - They shall all be supported, defended, and saved by the Lord. Israel had this honor, and such victories over their enemies, while they continued faithful to their... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 149:9
To execute upon them the judgment written ,.... In the law, according to the Targum; either upon the seven nations of the land of Canaan, Deuteronomy 7:12 ; or upon all the enemies of God and his people, Deuteronomy 32:41 ; or rather in the Gospel; which declares, that whoever believes in Christ shall be saved, but whoever believes not shall be damned, Mark 16:16 . And according to this twoedged sword or word of God, and the sentence pronounced by it, and judgment written in it, things... read more