Psalm 149
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 149:1-4 1Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
2Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King.
3Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.
4For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.
Psa 149:1-4 The strophe starts off with two parallel Piel imperatives.
1. praise
2. sing
These are followed by a series of four imperfects used as jussives.
1. let Israel be glad
2. let Zion rejoice
3. let them praise His name
4. let them sing praises to Him
The psalmist prays that Israel will respond appropriately to their military victory by recognizing it is from YHWH and not themselves.
Psa 149:1 “a new song” This would represent a cultural way to commemorate an event (compare Exo 15:1-18 ; Exo 15:21 ; Jdg 5:1-13 ; 1Sa 18:6 ; Psa 33:3 ; Psa 40:3 ; Psa 96:1 ; Psa 98:1 ; Isa 42:10 ).
▣ “congregation” This is Qahal (BDB 87:4 ), which in the LXX, was translated ekklesia. See Special Topic: Church (ekklesia) <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/church.html>.
▣ “the godly ones” This is the same word used in Psa 148:14 , which comes from hesed (BDB 33:9 ). See note at Psa 16:10 online.
Psa 149:2 “Maker” This (BDB 79:3 I) does not refer to creation but to the call of Abraham and the promise to his descendants, which was fully ratified on Mt. Sinai (cf. Exodus 1:9-20 ). It is also alluded to in Psa 95:6 ; Psa 100:3 ; Isa 17:7 ). YHWH was uniquely their Maker, Savior, and Covenant Deity!
▣ “their King” This theological understanding goes back to 1Sa 8:7 , cf. Psa 47:6 ; Psa 89:18 . The King of God's people was meant to be His earthly representative, His Undershepherd.
▣ “Zion” See Special Topic: Zion <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/moriah.html>.
Psa 149:3 “dancing” This implies a special worship event celebrating
1. a military victory (cf. Exo 15:20 ; Jdg 11:34 ; 1Sa 18:6 )
2. a worship event (cf. 2Sa 6:5 ; Psa 150:4 )
3. a restoration (cf. Psa 30:11 ; in connection with this, “bed” [BDB 101:2 ] may refer to a place sick people lie, cf. Exo 21:18 ; Job 33:19 )
Psa 149:4 “the afflicted ones” Although this root (BDB 77:6 ) can refer to the poor and needy, it often was used of God's persecuted people.
▣ “salvation” See Special Topic: Salvation (OT) <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/salvation_ot_term.html>.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 149:5-9 5Let the godly ones exult in glory;
Let them sing for joy on their beds.
6Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
7To execute vengeance on the nations
And punishment on the peoples,
8To bind their kings with chains
And their nobles with fetters of iron,
9To execute on them the judgment written;
This is an honor for all His godly ones.
Praise the Lord!
Psa 149:5-9 This strophe has three prayer requests using imperfects used in a jussive sense.
1. exult
2. sing for joy
3. an assumed “to be” verb in Psa 149:6 a
This strophe combines a prayer for
1. God's people to rejoice
2. God's enemies to be judged
Psa 149:5 “the godly ones” This is from the root hesed (BDB 33:9 , see Special Topic: Lovingkindness [hesed] <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/lovingkindness.html>). It is used often and denotes someone faithful to the covenant.
The other term used for faithful followers is from the root kadosh (BDB 87:2 , see SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/holy.html>), which denotes one separated for YHWH's service.
These “godly ones” are not sinless but have a faith, obedient, and repentant relationship with YHWH.
▣ “glory” This Hebrew root (BDB 45:8 , see SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (DOXA) <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/glory_doxa.html> [kabod]) is difficult to define. It has a wide semantic field. AB (p. 357) thinks it is a title for YHWH, “their Glorious One.”
▣ “sing for joy on their beds” This is a surprising place to “exult. . .sing.” This must be figurative language of a person with a joyful, peaceful heart that sleeps well! This is the opposite of Psa 6:7 .
It is surely possible (Tyndale, OT Commentary Series, vol. 16, Psalm, p. 527) that “couch” refers to reclining at a meal and, therefore, singing and rejoicing at a victory banquet!
Psa 149:6 The peaceful attitude of Psa 149:5 is matched with military preparedness. There is peace because YHWH has given His covenant people victory over the surrounding nations (cf. Psa 149:7-8 ).
▣ “high praises” This construct (BDB 92:8 , KB 120:6 and BDB 4:2 ) occurs only here and possibly Psa 66:17 .
▣ “sword in their hand” This phrase could refer to
1. literary imagery of a past victory
2. a symbolic dance by priests
3. preparation for a coming battle
Psa 149:7 Some see this verse in an eschatological setting but it could fit any victory in Israel's history over the surrounding nations of the ANE.
▣ “vengeance” For a good brief discussion of this theological concept in the OT, see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1140-1149. If YHWH does not bring justice in this life, there must be an afterlife.
Psa 149:9 a “the judgment written” This must refer to
1. “Holy War” promises, as in the Exodus and Conquest
2. results of the “cursing and blessing” promises of Leviticus 2:6 and Deuteronomy 2:7-30 3. an allusion to the Prophetic sections on the judgment of the nations (i.e., Jeremiah 4:6-51 )
4. a good example of this kind of “peace promise” is Eze 28:26 ; Eze 34:25-28 ; Eze 38:8 Psa 149:9 b The victory brought by YHWH will bring honor to the covenant people (cf. Psalm 112:1 ).
Psa 149:9 c Psalms 14:6-150 all begin and end with “Hallelujah,” a Piel imperative of “praise,” or an abbreviation of YHWH.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk n the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. On what occasions were “a new song” sung?
2. Does Psa 149:2 a refer to Genesis 1 or Genesis 1:2 ?
3. Is the Psalm about a past military victory or a future one?
4. Does the Bible as a whole emphasize the judgment of the nations or the inclusion of the nations?
5. Who are the godly ones in Psa 149:1 ; Psa 149:5 ; Psa 149:9 ?
