Psalms 149:1

PSALM CXLIX

All the congregation are invited to praise God for his

mercies, 1-3.

Their great privileges, 4, 5.

Their victories, 6-9.

NOTES ON PSALM CXLIX

This seems to be an epinikion, or song of triumph, after some glorious victory; probably in the time of the Maccabees. It has been also understood as predicting the success of the Gospel in the nations of the earth. According to the Syriac, it concerns the new temple, by which the Christian Church is meant. It has no title in the Hebrew, nor in any of the Versions, and no author's name.

Verse Psalms 149:1. Sing unto the Lord a new song] That is, as we have often had occasion to remark, an excellent song, the best we can possibly pronounce. So the word חדש chadash is often understood; and so the word novus, "new," was often used among the Latin writers: -

Pollio amat nostram, quamvis sit rustica, musam.

Pollio et ipse facit NOVA CARMINA.

VIRG. Ecl. iii., ver. 84.

Pollio loves my lines, although rude:

Pollio himself makes excellent odes.

Tamely and inexpressively translated by Dryden: -

"Pollio my rural verse vouchsafes to read.

My Pollio writes himself." O what a falling off is here!

Servius, in his comment on nova, says, magna, miranda. Nova means great, admirable.

So on novum nectar, Ecl. v., ver. 71, he says, id est, magna dulcedo; "nectar of EXCELLENT flavour."

Congregation of saints.] The Israelites, who were, by profession and by injunction, a holy people.