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1 Praise the LORD.[a]
Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with tambourine and harp.
4 For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints rejoice in this honour
and sing for joy on their beds.
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6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
7 to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
9 to carry out the sentence written against them –
this is the glory of all his saints.
Praise the LORD
(NIV)
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Psalm 149: The unique aspect of praise that is highlighted in this psalm is that praise is related to the kingdom of the Lord. Though the psalm begins with the normal call to praise (verses 1-3), the cause for praise (verses 4-9), is quite unexpected: because the Lord intends to establish His kingdom on the earth. This kingdom involves both the glorification of the righteous (verses 4-6), and the judgment of the wicked (verses 7-9). This aspect of judgment is apparently to be carried out by the righteous (verses 6-9). This passage should be taken in a prophetic sense to refer to the time when God will in fact establish His kingdom on the earth with His glorified saints right behind Him (Rev. 19:11-21). Even in this age of grace, believers are instructed to pray “Thy kingdom come” (Matt. 6:10), a petition that includes not only the glorification of the righteous but the destruction of the wicked.
Verses 1-9 The composer and occasion for this psalm are unknown.
I. Israel’s Praise for God (1-5);
II. Israel’s Punishment of the Nations (6-9).
Another way of saying “according to the Scriptures”, as God has prophesied the uncovering of the nations. “This honour”: is for the privilege of carrying out God’s will.
These next two Scriptures leave no doubt when this reign is.
2 Timothy 2:12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:"
Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
We will be judged and judge as his assistants in that day, and carry out whatever orders He gives us.
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