God’s Saving Word: Praise and Thanksgiving
Introduction
Psalm 149: Today’s psalm is a song of praise that emphasizes God’s justice. It offers images of music, praise, and celebration. But it also includes images of punishment. It may have been an prayer during the exile for the defeat of Israel’s enemies, the deliverance of the people, and the restoration of Judah.
Scripture Reading
149 Praise the Lord!
Sing a new song to the Lord;
praise him in the assembly of his faithful people!
2 Be glad, Israel, because of your Creator;
rejoice, people of Zion, because of your king!
3 Praise his name with dancing;
play drums and harps in praise of him.
4 The Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he honors the humble with victory.
5 Let God’s people rejoice in their triumph
and sing joyfully all night long.
6 Let them shout aloud as they praise God,
with their sharp swords in their hands
7 to defeat the nations
and to punish the peoples;
8 to bind their kings in chains,
their leaders in chains of iron;
9 to punish the nations as God has commanded.
This is the victory of God’s people.
Praise the Lord!
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 149:1
Praise the LORD! Sing a new song to the LORD; praise him in the assembly of his faithful people!
Reflect
Reread verses 6-9: The “swords” symbolize God’s concern for justice. God gives his people responsibility to establish justice on earth. Punishment is to serve justice, and we rejoice when tyrants are retrained from evil. Note that New Testament writers do not speak about the sword of vengeance but rather as the power of God at work within us (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:12-17; Hebrews 4:12). This “power” is God’s Spirit which helps us to be living examples of God’s powerful love. In what ways have you experienced the power of God’s Spirit at work in your life?
Pray
Praise the LORD! Creator God, I sing to you joyfully! Make me an agent of your justice through the mighty power of your Holy Spirit, that I may be a living example of your love. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Psalm 150: A concluding doxology.