A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 149
PSALME CXLIX.
THis Psalme is a ninefold exhortation of the true members of the Church, who are believers and Saints in effect, to praise God for saving grace bestowed on … for speciall priviledges granted unto them; not only … what is given to the world, but also above what is given to the visible members of the Church, who are not as yet converted: whereunto some reasons or motives unto the obedience of these exhortations are added.
Vers. 1. PRaise ye the LORD: sing unto the LORD a new song: and his praise in the Congregation of the Saints.
From the first two exhortations; Learn, 1. The elect, regenerate, or true believers, have a song of their own, for mercies proper to them, beside the praise which they have to give for the Lords work round about them, and therefore they have a proper reason to praise God for their own particular: Praise ye the Lord. 2. The song of the redeemed elect and converted, is a new song which shall never wax old, nor be cut off, an everlasting song: Sing unto the Lord a new song. 3. It is Gods ordinance, that the worshippers of the Lord should have assemblies and meetings▪ wherein publickly and joyntly they may glorifie the Lord in proclaiming cheerfully his praise: Sing his praise in the congregation of the Saints.
Vers. 2. Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him: let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
From the third and fourth exhortation; Learn, 1. It is the Lords command, that his people rejoyce in himselfe, with a joy above all the joy which they can have in the creatures, which God hath given to them, that they may the more chearfully praise him: Let Israel rejoyce in him. 2. The Church of the elect and renewed Saints, is the special workmanship of Gods grace, not only as his creatures, but also as his new creatures, created in Christ Jesus unto good works: Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him. 3. The Church is a peculiar Kingdome by it selfe, whereof God is King in a peculiar way, able to govern his people by his Word, discipline and Spirit, and to defend his Church, and all his own ordinances therein, to the comfort of all the true members thereof: Let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
Vers. 3. Let them praise his Name in the dance▪ let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
From the fifth and sixth exhortation to praise God; Learn, 1. The joy of the believer, is a great and growing joy, arising from rejoycing, in the former verse, to exulting, in this verse, signified by dancing: Let them praise his Name in the dance. 2. The joy of the godly is a compleat joy, imploying all, and filling all the power… of the soul, signified by musical instruments used in the paedagogy of the old Church: Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Ver. 4. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautifie the meek with salvation.
Of these exhortations he giveth two reasons. Whence learn, 1. The Lord loveth believers and repenteth not, but resteth in his love, and taketh pleasure in his workmanship upon them: The Lord taketh pleasure in his people. 2. The constancy of the Lords love towards his people, is the ground of the Churches constant joy in God, and perpetual praising of him: Let them sing praises to him with the timbrel, and the harp: for the Lord taketh pleasure in his people. 3. Whatsoever matter of joy believers or true Saints have in God, yet they are acquainted with as much affliction in the world, as emptieth them of rejoycing in themselves; humbleth them, and subdueth their spirits, and maketh them to aime and endeavour without fretting or grudging, to digest all the Lords dispensations toward them, and for this cause the believers, or Saints, are called meek. 4. Albeit the affliction wherewith the godly are acquainted, doth obscure their blessednesse, and hide the beauty thereof before the world, yet God in love to them, oft-times wipeth off the black and blemish of affliction, by giving them glorious deliveries, and at length he giveth to them full salvation: He will beautifie the meek with salvation.
Vers. 5. Let the Saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth: and a two-edged sword be in their hand.
From the seventh, eighth and ninth exhortations to praise God; Learn, 1. The godly, or true members of the Church, are Gods favourites, endued with grace, accepted through the beloved: yea, and are good to such as they live among; for so much doth the word Saints import. 2. The believer may be joyfull now, for the glory hoped for, and may glory in the promised blessednesse, as if it were already possessed: Let the Saints be joyfull in glory 3. The joy allowed upon the Saints, is a lasting joy▪ both day and night; a joy which when they are most retired, may be most injoyed, which being examined in secret shall be found solid; a joy full of quiet, rest and peace, as if they were …esting in their beds; a joy which shall continue with them, when their bodies are lying in the grave: for thus much may the words beare in divers respects; Let them sing aloud upon their beds. 4. The praises of God set down in his Word, wherein the Lords Name and attributes, the Lords promises and glorious wo…ks, especially done in favour of his Saints, are set down, are the matter of the Saints confidence, gloria…ion and joy, worthy to be talked of, and openly declared in the audience of others, for the glory of God, and edification of people: for what the Lord is, to wit, wise, powerfull, mercifull, just, &c. that the Lord is for his people, and for every believer in him; and therefore▪ Let the high praises of the Lord be in their mouth▪ 5▪ As the Word of God wherein Gods praises are set down, is the matter and warrant of the Saints joy and confidence in God, so also is it a powerfull weapon to overturn all adversaries power whatsoever, both bodily and spiritual: Let the p…ises of God be a two-edged sword in their hand.
Vers. 7. To execute vengeance upon the heathen: and punishments upon the people.
8. To binde their kings with chaine: and their nobles with fetters of iron.
9. To execute upon them the judgement written: This honour have all his Saints. Praise ye the LORD.
By way of motive unto the obedience of the former exhortations, to rejoyce in God, and glorifie him, he subjoyneth a speciall use of the praises of God, set down in Scripture in relation to enemies, and persecutors of the Saints; over whom all believers have a spiritual victory by faith in God, so that as the Lords Officers, they may pronounce doom and sentences condemnatory against all their enemies great and small, according as the Scripture giveth them warrant. And this doom and sentence of judgement pronounced by the believer, whether in his own minde▪ or vocally as occasion offereth, must have execution undoubtedly following upon it, according to what is written in the Scripture, and this is no small honour allowed upon the Saints. Whence learn, 1. The elect and regenerate, believing students of holinesse, have enemies both without the Church visible, and within it, both heathen and people. 2. God will be avenged upon them all great and small; for it is presupposed that vengeance must be executed upon the heathen, and punishment upon the people. 3. The believers are in a fort executioners of this vengeance, because they as doomsters, do take the sentence from the mouth of God, the just Judge, and pronounce doom on them, whereupon, in the set time followeth execution; the Word of God falling on them in effect, as a sharp sword to cut them asunder: thus the truth and justice of God, with his other attributes, all being parts of his praise, Are a two-edged sword in their hands, to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishment upon the people. 4. The greatest Monarchs, Rulers and Judges among men, are subjected unto the Word of God, and must be bound either to the beliefe and obedience of it, or unto the punishment and vengeance pronounced against the transgressors thereof, so fast as if they were bound in strongest fetters: for the praise of God in the mouth of his Saint, are, To binde their kings with chaines, and their nobles with fetters of iron. 5. The Lords children and Saints must not do wrong to Kings or Nobles, or to any man else; they must neither pronounce nor execute judgement according as they please, but as the written Word of God prescribeth or alloweth: for here they are tied, To execute nothing upon them, save the judgement written. 6. These priviledges are spirituall and common to all believers, who according to their places and callings, whether publick or private, may for their own comfort, and for others edification, accordingly apply the Word of God to themselves, and against their enemies: for, This honour have all his Saints, and therefore they ought in a special manner to blesse God for their priviledges: Praise ye the Lord.