Psalm 149

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 149

The foregoing psalm was a hymn of praise to the Creator; this is a hymn of praise to the Redeemer. It is a psalm of triumph in the God of Israel, and over the enemies of Israel. Probably it was penned upon occasion of some victory which Israel was blessed and honoured with. Some conjecture that it was penned when David had taken the strong-hold of Zion, and settled his government there. But it looks further, to the kingdom of the Messiah, who, in the chariot of the everlasting gospel, goes... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 149:1-5

We have here, I. The calls given to God's Israel to praise. All his works were, in the foregoing psalm, excited to praise him; but here his saints in a particular manner are required to bless him. Observe then, 1. Who are called upon to praise God. Israel in general, the body of the church (Ps. 149:2), the children of Zion particularly, the inhabitants of that holy hill, who are nearer to God than other Israelites; those that have the word and ordinances of God near to them, that are not... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 149:6-9

The Israel of God are here represented triumphing over their enemies, which is both the matter of their praise (let them give to God the glory of those triumphs) and the recompence of their praise; those that are truly thankful to God for their tranquillity shall be blessed with victory. Or it may be taken as a further expression of their praise (Ps. 149:6): let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and then, in a holy zeal for his honour, let them take a two-edged sword in their hand, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 149

INTRODUCTION TO Psalm 149 This psalm is thought by Calvin and others to have been written for the sake of the Jews that returned from the Babylonish captivity; and is a prediction of great and famous things done in the times of the Maccabees to Heathens and their princes, so Theodoret; the Syriac version entitles it, "concerning the new temple;' that is, the second temple, built by Zerubbabel, and the things done under that; but it rather seems to have been written by David in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 149:1

Praise ye the Lord ,.... Or "hallelujah"; the title of the psalm, according to many; sing unto the Lord a new song ; for a new mercy received, a new victory obtained, or a new salvation wrought; more particularly the new song of redeeming grace through Jesus Christ, the song of the Lamb, in distinction from the old song of Moses and the children of Israel at the Red sea, on account of their deliverance, which was typical of salvation by Christ, the oldest, being the first song we read... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 149:2

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him ,.... Or, "in his Makers" F9 בעשיו "in factoribus suis", Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth. , Father, Son, and Spirit; as in Job 35:10 ; see also Ecclesiastes 12:1 ; for all three Persons had a concern in the creation of man at first, "let us make man", &c.; Genesis 1:26 ; and have in the formation of every individual man; of the Israelites as men, and of them as a body politic and ecclesiastic, being raised up, constituted, and formed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 149:3

Let them praise his name in the dance ,.... In a chorus of saints, joining together in their expressions of joy, by words and gestures; an ancient practice that went along with singing praises, Exodus 15:20 ; or rather, "with the pipe" F11 במחול "cum tibia", Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Amama. , as some render it; a musical instrument used in former times in the worship of God, in this part of it, praising his name, with those that follow; let them sing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 149:4

For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people ,.... Not all mankind; though they are all his people by creation, and are under the care of his providence; yet they are not all acceptable to him; some are abhorred by him for their sins and transgressions: but these are a special and peculiar people, whom he has foreknown and chosen, taken into the covenant of his grace, and provided in it blessings for them; whom he has given to Christ, and he has redeemed; and who are called by the Spirit and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 149:5

Let the saints be joyful in glory ,.... In the glory put upon them now, being beautified with salvation; in the righteousness of Christ on them, and the grace of Christ in them, which makes them all glorious within; and in the glory they expect to have hereafter, both upon their bodies and souls, and in the hope of that, Romans 5:2 . Some copies of the Ethiopic version render it, "in his glory"; in the glory of Christ, asa divine Person and as Mediator, seen now in the glass of the Gospel,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 149:6

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth ,.... Or "throats" F13 בגרונם "in gutture eorum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, &c.; ; loudly declared by them. The word "praises" is not in the text, and so may be read, "the high things of God" F14 רוממות אל αι υψωσεις του θεου , Sept. "celsitudines", Schmidt. ; or, "the heights of God", as the Septuagint: and these are the perfections of God; as his omniscience, which is knowledge too high for a creature to... read more

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