The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 149
PSALM CXLIX.
Hallelujah. See CXLVI.
ARGUMENT.
Theodoret thinks this Pſalm was made for them, that, after their return from Captivity, had many oppoſers; but, by the Divine Aſſiſtance overcame them: And that it is a praediction of thoſe great things, which were done by the Maccabees. Certain it is, that ſome ſignal Victory was the occaſion of it; and thence Saint Chryſoſtome hath here given us a full account, I think, of the meaning of A new Song: which, according to the uſe of the word new in other places, (when they would expreſs a thing very wonderfull, ſuch as hath not been ſeen or heard of before, XVI. Numb. 30. XXXI. Jer. 22.) he takes to denote An illuſtrious and famous Hymn, made for Victories, for great Atchievements and Trophies. Which were never more remarkable in this Nation, then in the days of David; and therefore this Pſalm may very well relate to his reign: who ſubdued ſeveral Kingdoms; which had ſtood out, and would not ſubmit to Iſrael till his time, though God had promiſed to give their Countries to them, XV. Gen. 18. XXIII. Exod. 31. 2. Sam. VIII. 1, 2, &c. X. 19.
The interpretation which I have given of the ſixth Verſe, need not ſeem ſtrange to any one; who conſiders that it hath been, and is the cuſtom of all Nations, to ſtir up themſelves to fight by the ſound of ſome muſical Inſtrument or other. "The ancient inhabitants of Etruria, ſaith Clemens Alexandrinus (in the ſecond Book of his Paedagogus, chap. 4.) uſed the Trumpet for this purpoſe; the Arcadians the Whiſtle; the Sicilians an Inſtrument called Pectids; the Cretians the Harp; the Lacedaemonians the Pipe; the Thracians the Cornet; the Egyptians the Drum; the Arabians the Cymball: But it was proper to the Iſraelites to go forth againſt their Enemies, ſinging Pſalms of Praiſe to God, (as we reade, 2 Chron. XX. 21, 22.) who had given great Victories to their Anceſtours, and had promiſed never to forſake their Poſterity; while they ſerved Him onelyonly, and piouſly confided in Him.
1. PRaiſe ye the LORD: Sing unto the LORD a new ſong, and his praiſe in the congregation of ſaint….
1. SIng a new Hymn unto the Lord, for the freſh and ſingular benefits He hath beſtowed upon us: Let Him be praiſed not onelyonly in private, but in the publick aſſemblies of thoſe, who have received ſpecial marks of his favour to them.
2. Let Iſrael rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Sion be joyfull in their king.
2. Let all the Iſraelites rejoice in Him, that made them his peculiar people; and hath now raiſed them to great ſplendour among the Nations of the world: let the inhabitants of Sion, more particularly, be exceeding glad, that the Lord, who is our King, hath there ſettled his royal Throne, 2 Sam. V. 9. VI. 12.
3. Let them praiſe his name in the dance: let them ſing praiſes unto him with the timbrel and harp.
3. Let them leap for joy, and unanimouſly praiſe his moſt excellent Majeſty, in their Dances to the Flute: (2 Sam. VI. 16.) let them teſtifie their gratitude to Him, by ſinging Pſalms, with the Timbrel and the Harp.
4. For the LORD taketh pleaſure in his people: he will beautifie the meek with ſalvation.
4. For the Lord taketh pleaſure in doing good unto his people: and will not onelyonly deliver them after they have been oppreſſed many years; but, if they meekly depend upon Him, make them as great and illuſtrious, as they have been contemptible and mean, 1 Chron. XIV. 2.
5. Let the ſaints be joyfull in glory: let them ſing aloud upon their beds.
5. Which ſhall fill the hearts of good men (who are dear to Him) with the higheſt triumph, in the honour that He hath done them: and make them ſhout for joy, in the ſecurity and peace He ſhall beſtow upon them.
6. Let the high praiſes of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged ſword in their hand;
6. Which they ſhall not doubt to maintain againſt all oppoſers; for in aſſured hope of Victory they ſhall go to War, with Pſalms, and Hymns in their mouths, concerning the great acts of the Lord: which they ſhall couragiouſly ſing with a loud voice, when they fall upon their enemies; and prefer to the two edged ſword wich they carry in their hand.
7. To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and puniſhments upon the people;
7. Wherewith they ſhall take a juſt revenge upon the heathen, for all the injuries they have done us: and ſo chaſtiſe the inſolence of the people, that they ſhall fear again to moleſt us, 1 Chron. XIV. 17.
8. To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
8. For their Victories ſhall be ſo compleat, that they ſhall not onelyonly rout their enemies and put them to flight; but lead away their Kings captive in chains; and take their great Captains and Commanders priſoners, and keep them faſt in fetters of iron.
9. To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his ſaints. Praiſe ye the LORD.
9. In order to the executing upon them the judgment, which God hath long ago decreed, and is recorded in his Law, VII. Deut. 24. XXXII. 41, 42, 43. This is the honour which all Iſrael ſhall have, when they are in favour with God; and ſuch ſhall be their glorious Victories, and ſuch Hymns and melodious Songs ſhall they ſing, ſaying; Hallelujah, praiſe the Lord, by whoſe power and might we have done all this.