HOW DOES PSALM 149 RELATE TO CHRISTIAN LIFE? OR DOES IT?

"The Company of captain Frans Banning Cocq and lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch preparing to march out", better known as "The Night Watch," by Rembrandt.

For years... make that for decades, I've wondered about how to apply Psalm 149 to my life. 

The first half is pretty straight forward: it talks about singing to the Lord a new song, rejoicing in our Maker and King, praising Him with dance and harp, and that He takes pleasure in His people and will beautify the humble with salvation. But buckle up your seat belts: The latter part takes a surprising twist. Starting with verse 5 and continuing to the end of the Psalm:

"Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment-- This honor have all His saints.  Praise the Lord!"

                Psalm 149:5-9, NKJV

Are you stumped as well? Then I'm not alone. How does this apply to your lives?

Often when I have a question, I try to get feedback, so I asked the question in a Facebook group I trust - Calvinst Dispensationalists Unite. I did get two primary themes in the responses:

"No, we're not supposed to get swords out and start chaining people up." Really? Shucks! I had my fetters all ready to go! Yes, I realized that we Christians aren't to literally apply it. But if not, then how? After all, isn't all Scripture inspired by God and profitable for teaching, rebuke, correction, and instruction in righteousness? 

"We need to look at the original audience and the message to them. And in this case, it looks to the Millennial Kingdom." This response is right on the money, and is a key part in interpreting Scripture. However, it is silent on the part I was seeking help on: Application. After all, the passage says this honor have all the saints - aren't Christians part of "all the saints?"

So, unfortunately, I resigned to still having that question unanswered. But that was not permanent.

A few weeks later, I was sitting in a D-Group meeting in class. No, we weren't looking at Psalm 149. But all of a sudden, a thought went through my head... or was it leading of the Holy Spirit?...

"Your answer is in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6."

As I was saying, the discussion at the moment was unrelated. No, nobody mentioned 2 Corinthians. I had memorized that passage in the past year, but I hadn't reviewed it for a week or two. 

Unfamiliar with that passage? Here it is:

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." 

                            2 Corinthians 10:3-6, NKJV

Am I the only one noticing similarities? Both deal with weapons. Both mention taking captives and punishing disobedience.

Now, how do we apply Corinthians? That's another blog.

By the way, next time I have a question? I'll go back to Calvinist Dispensationalists Unite. They have proven to be a great source for sound Biblical teaching and discussion.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 47 OF 48 - PSALM 149

 

Yavapai County Courthouse, Prescott, Arizona

1   Praise the LORD! 

    Sing to the LORD a new song, 

    And His praise in the assembly of saints. 

2   Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; 

    Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 

3   Let them praise His name with the dance; 

    Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. 

4   For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; 

    He will beautify the humble with salvation. 

5  Let the saints be joyful in glory; 

    Let them sing aloud on their beds. 

6  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, 

    And a two-edged sword in their hand, 

7   To execute vengeance on the nations, 

    And punishments on the peoples; 

8   To bind their kings with chains, 

    And their nobles with fetters of iron; 

9   To execute on them the written judgment-- 

    This honor have all His saints. 

    Praise the LORD! 

                        Psalm 149:1-9, New King James Version

Yes, I've talked about some of my favorite Psalms. But if I would pick one Psalm, gather together a half to a full dozen of my theologically minded friends, and discuss that Psalm and what it means and how to apply it, this would be that Psalm. Allow me to highlight three points of the Psalm that put it in this category.

1. Verse one tells us to sing to the Lord a new song, and to sing it to the assembly of the upright. What is meant by a new song? I'd love to hear the above mentioned 6-12 friends give me their interpretations, and I'm sure at least one would  give the meaning of the original languages and the cultural setting, but I'll suggest it might include those that God has given the talent to write songs may compose new songs. I also love the concept of the assembly of the upright.
2. Verse four is an encouragement - that the Lord takes pleasure in His people and will beautify the humble with salvation. Isn't that a wonderful hope?
3. The passage that I want to discuss with those 6-12 friends (could they be considered an assembly of the upright) is the last half of the Psalm. It starts out with them receiving glory and singing praise to God. But then in verse 6, it mentions letting the high praise of God be in their mouth (which is typical in the Psalms) and a sharp two edged sword in their hand (not typical for the Psalm). It goes on to say that they'll punish the nations, bind the kings and execute on them the judgment. It then adds, "This honor have all the saints. Praise the LORD."

Wouldn't that be an interesting discussion?

Note. This is part 47 of 48 of my Sunday Psalms series. However, I'm taking a four week break from this series, and will conclude it on New Year's Eve.