Psalm 149 – Assembly
It is good to praise our God, even better to join with others in this praise, or so we learn from Psalm 149 – assembly. What is the assembly of the faithful?
Psalm 149
We are almost to the end of our journey through the book of Psalms. Psalm 149 is another one of the five Hallelujah psalms that end the book. It begins with praising God in the assembly of the faithful, or wherever “the godly gather together.” Most translations of Psalm 149 use the word assembly or congregation, whether of the faithful, the saints, the godly or holy ones. It is fitting and right to praise God in the assembly.
“It is wonderful for the individual saint to offer praise to God; it is even better and greater to do so in the assembly of saints. The community of God’s people makes praise all the richer, especially praise offered in song.” Psalm 149 Commentary: The High Praises of God and a Two
The community of God’s people makes praise richer, and so we join with the godly in singing, Hallelujah!
“Hallelujah! Sing a new song to the LORD, praising him where the godly gather together.” (1)
Pleasure in Praising God
It is a pleasure to praise our God. God’s people sing aloud, dancing with tambourines. “The joy among God’s people in their Creator and King was evidenced by dance, song, and instrumental music. These were happy expressions of gratitude, and show that God approves of and encourages such happiness among His people.” Psalm 149 Commentary: The High Praises of God and a Two
“May Israel rejoice in its Maker, and Zion’s descendants in their King!
May they praise his name with dancing, chanting songs to him with tambourines and lyres.
For the LORD is pleased with his people; he beautifies the afflicted with salvation.” (2-4)
Israel praises God as their king. “It is common for people to be joyful over a political leader or a head of state. The visit of such a ruler is treated as a happy, special occasion. Believers regard it is a special and joyful thing to recognize and enjoy the presence of their King.” Psalm 149 Commentary: The High Praises of God and a Two
God is also to be praised because of his care for the afflicted. “Most of the great ones among men despise the humble and leave them in their low condition. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). He makes the humble beautiful with salvation.” Psalm 149 Commentary: The High Praises of God and a Two
God’s people even sing in their beds.
“May those he loves be exalted, singing for joy on their couches.” (5)
“The saints are so happy in God’s glory that they sing aloud on their beds. Waking hours do not give enough time to express all their praise and joy unto God, so they must continue it on their beds.” Psalm 149 Commentary: The High Praises of God and a Two
Two-Edged Sword
In the midst of this praise, the writer brings words of war. “God’s people are pictured as ready for battle, equipped with two mighty weapons.” Psalm 149 Commentary: The High Praises of God and a Two
“Let high praises to God be heard in their throats, while they wield two-edged swords in their hands
as they bring retribution to nations and punishment to peoples,
binding their kings with chains, their officials with iron bands,
and executing the judgment written against them. This is honor for all the ones he loves. Hallelujah!” (6-9)
Here we are at the end of the book of Psalms, amid a chorus of praise. How jolting to hear such words.
“So what a shock it is to find that the second to last Psalm, the one just before the final resounding symphony of praise that is Psalm 150, ends with these militaristic words of verses 6-9. A sermon on this Psalm could be entitled “Praise in their Throats and a Sword in Their Hands.” We move from praise to punishment in the blink of an eye.” Psalm 149 – Center for Excellence in Preaching
God’s Vengeance
How to understand such words? Some state this vengeance refers to legal vengeance to restore justice. “The idea of vengeance is difficult for many 21st-century Christians to embrace. James Mays reminds us that the vengeance called for in Psalm 149 is not “the emotion of a hate reaction but in the sphere of legal custom. Vengeance was an act to enforce or restore justice where the regular legal processes were not competent or had failed.” Commentary on Psalm 149 – Working Preacher from Luther Seminary
Others see it as God’s vengeance. “While it is used in the biblical text in reference to human revenge, most often it is used in speaking about the vengeance of God upon those who violate the basic order and balance of the created world.” Psalm 149 Commentary: The High Praises of God and a Two
Israel has a role to play in bringing this vengeance.
“We see that in the immediate context of the psalmist, in some way Israel was to be the agent to execute vengeance. This means that their joyful praise had to connect itself to radical obedience, even to God’s difficult and costly commands. As believers under the New Covenant, we don’t battle flesh and blood enemies (Ephesians 6:12-18), yet we have the responsibility to be not only worshippers, but warriors in a spiritual warfare that at times will be difficult and costly. In a spiritual sense, we are to execute vengeance on every thing that would oppose Jesus Christ and the work of His kingdom in our lives.” Psalm 149 Commentary: The High Praises of God and a Two
The willingness to do God’s will brings honor as we see in verse 9.
Assembly
It is good to assemble together with others to praise God. “The assembly is a manifestation of God’s covenantal relationship with His people. In the Old Testament, it represents the collective identity of Israel as God’s chosen people. In the New Testament, it signifies the universal church, transcending ethnic and cultural boundaries through faith in Christ.” Topical Bible: The Assembly
Jesus tells us, wherever two or more are gathered in his name, he is present (Matthew 18:20), highlighting God’s presence among the faithful.
We humans are social beings. God saw from the very beginning that it was “not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18).” And so, God created another, a helpmate. God called us into families and God calls us into the assembly – God’s church. Ekklesia is not a building but the people who come together, wherever that may be.
But there is a flip side to this assembly. We know that it is good when brothers and sisters live together in harmony (Psalm 133). It is good to gather together to praise our God. It can bring out the best in us, or it can magnify the worst. We see this when mass hysteria overtakes groups, filling our streets with calls for vengeance or retribution for perceived wrongs. We see this when churches, acting under God’s name, act anything but kind and loving.
So, as good as it is to gather to worship, there is a danger too. God gave us each other for companionship. God calls us into communities of worship. But in all things, we are to be docile to the spirit. Our praise of God wields God’s sword of truth, which is God’s word. “That is, the weapon that Israel will use to bring God’s justice to the nations is praise.” Commentary on Psalm 149 – Working Preacher from Luther Seminary
We are to wield God’s spiritual sword in the assembly of the faithful.
Psalm 149 – Assembly
How wonderful to gather together in praise of our God! We learn this from Psalm 149 – assembly. We praise God for all of creation and for God’s loving nature. As the book of Psalms nears the end, we praise God for the gift of the church.
“In summary, the assembly in the Bible is a vital expression of communal worship, covenantal identity, and spiritual unity. It reflects the ongoing work of God in gathering His people for His purposes and glory.” Topical Bible: The Assembly
Where do you find your place to assemble and praise our God?
(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 149: Praise God with Song and Dance! From Triumphalism to Rejoicing. – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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