Psalms 149:9

To execute upon them the judgment— i.e. "The judgment which God hath long ago decreed, and which is recorded in his law." There should be a full stop at written. The next clause is general; Such honour have all his saints: i.e. "Such is the honour which Israel shall have; and such shall be their glorious victories, while they are in favour with God."

REFLECTIONS.—1st, The contemplation of new wonders of God's hand calls for a new song of praise. The place appointed is the congregation of the saints; for when we assemble for public worship, praise is the noblest part of the service, and all should join therein. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him, or in his Makers, the Eternal Three, whose work it is not only to make the persons, or to form the people of Israel into a nation, but to create in righteousness and true holiness the spiritual Israel, which is, the most enlarged matter of our joy; and let the children of Zion, the living members of Christ's church, be joyful in their king, Messiah, exalted to the throne of glory, and ever living to bless and make his faithful people happy. Let them, these believing souls, praise his name in the sacred dance, which on solemn occasions was used; or with the pipe: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp, as expressive of that sweeter melody which they made unto God in their hearts, and without which the other were but profanation. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: they are his in the Son of his love; he admits them into communion with himself, accepts their services, and delights in their persons. He will beautify the meek with salvation, who, lowly in their own eyes, are led to Jesus for salvation. Therefore let the saints, for this is their honoured character, however in the world the name be ridiculed, let the saints be joyful in glory; adorned as they are, and in hope of what they shall be; or gloriously, with exceeding great joy. Let them sing aloud upon their beds, not ashamed of being heard, but triumphing in the salvation of God, when they awake at midnight, when they lie on beds of sickness, or go down to the dust of death; and well may they sing who have nothing to fear, every thing to hope, every foe vanquished, the sting of death removed, the gates of heaven opened, and glory, honour, and immortality in full prospect before them. Lord, give me to share in this felicity of thy faithful people! Open thou my mouth, and my lips shall shew forth thy praise!

2nd, The victories of God's Israel are great and distinguished, and therefore their praises are loud and joyful. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, or, the high things, his glorious perfections, which are to be celebrated by them; and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; either literally to avenge the wrongs done to God's people by the neighbouring nations, now justly smitten with the irresistible sword of David and his army; or, spiritually it may be interpreted of the sword of the Spirit, Ephesians 6:17., Hebrews 6:12 which is sharp and piercing, convincing the conscience of sin, cutting down all self-righteousness, and threatening eternal death to the soul. With this word in their mouths the apostles and preachers went forth, to fight against heathen idolatry and superstition, and to rebuke the people for their abominations: and the powerful effects of it soon appeared in the demolition of the idols and their temples, and the conversion of the Gentiles to God, who turned at their reproof: To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron, as Joshua and David had done by their conquered foes: or rather, as Christ hath done, and will do, by his enemies, binding Satan in chains from hurting his faithful people, and destroying the antichristian powers that oppress them: or by the effectual power of his grace, drawing the hearts of sinners, even some of highest rank, in chains of love to him, stronger than fetters of iron. To execute upon them the judgment written; on the nations of Canaan, (see Deuteronomy 7:2.) or rather, upon all the enemies of Christ and his people, who reject the warnings of his word, and therefore must perish everlastingly, Mark 16:16. This honour have all his saints; all the blessings recited in this psalm belong to the faithful; they shall be glorious in the eyes of God; rejoice in his salvation; and, sitting down with Christ on his throne, see all their enemies at the last become their footstool; and in the prospect of that great day they may well cry, Hallelujah!