"Praise the Lord! Sing to the LORD a new song. Sing His praises in the assembly of the faithful." Well in this context surrounding . . . "sing to the Lord a new song" we find more interesting emphasis. We are told to sing the new song among those of God's faithful people gathered for worship. We are challenged to exult and rejoice in our Maker. We are told to do it with dancing accompanied by instruments. And, we are challenged to let the praises of God be in our mouths and a sharp sword in our hands. Interesting picture of the people of God with His praise in their mouths and His word which is as a two-edged sword in their hands.
In verses 1-5 we find . . . joy to all the people of God, and in verses 6-9 is found. . . terror to their enemies. Also in these two sections we are challenged to praise Him both in public and in private. Both public and private worship of God, singing the new song, are an imperative for the believer. Spurgeon said that singing the new song is the fittest method for expressing reverent praise to the Lord. Our singing should be "unto the Lord"; the songs we sing to Him should be of Him, to Him, for Him and through Him! We are shown here again that the sanctuary is both a house of praise and house of prayer. Personal praise is sweet to the Lord but congregated praise multiplies the sweetness to the ears of the Lord. The saints do not gather to amuse themselves with music, nor to extol one another, but to sing His praise whose saints they are. Spurgeon said, "A congregation of saints is heaven upon earth: should not Jehovah, the Lord of saints, have all the praise that can come from such an assembly."
Psalm 149 describes worship as exuberant and energized. To be able to enter into the worship of ancient Israel would definitely be a cross-cultural experience for us today. The immersion in praise was by no means a retreat from the world; it provided hope, encouragement, motivation, and support to the congregation to join with God in gathering the outcasts, healing the brokenhearted and lifting up the downtrodden. Healing the world is serious work - God's work - and we are called first to praise His divine work and then to participate with Him in it with a "two-edged sword." We are here on business for our King!
Psalm 149 challenges us to worship by celebrating life, fully resisting all forces that stand in the way of God's justice, salvation and peace. Can our worship hear and echo the praise of all God's creation, as does Psalm 148? mjm
