Psalms 149 · The Lantern

O sing unto the Lord a new song: let the congregation of saints praise him.

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.

Let them praise his Name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with tabret and harp.

Let them praise his name in the choir. Wherever there is a choir, there diverse voices are gathered together into one song. For just as diverse strings produce the one sound of a song, so also diverse voices — that is, when they have been gathered together at once — make the choir of the Lord.

"Let them praise His Name in chorus" [Psalm 149:3]. What means "chorus"? Many know what a "chorus" is: nay, as we are speaking in a town, almost all know. A "chorus" is the union of singers. If we sing "in chorus," let us sing in concord. If any one's voice is out of harmony in a chorus of singers, it offends the ear, and throwes the chorus into confusion.

"Let them praise his name in the choir; let them play music for him on the timbrel and harp." In an earlier verse he said that we must rejoice in the Lord Christ, but now he says that we must praise the name of the Lord in the choir.

For the Lord hath pleasure in his people: and helpeth the meek-hearted.

Let the saints be joyful with glory: let them rejoice in their beds.

The saints shall exult in glory. In what glory? "Arise, my glory; arise, psaltery and lyre: I will arise at dawn." In glory. "For the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" — that is, he had not yet been crucified. Scripture says this, The Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus had not been glorified, that is, he had not been crucified.

"The saints shall exult in glory" [Psalm 149:5]. I would say somewhat important about the glory of the saints. For there is no one who loves not glory.

Hence it is said by the Psalmist of the just, "The Saints shall be joyful in glory, they shall rejoice upon their beds"; in that when they flee the mischiefs from things without, they exult in safety within the recesses of their hearts. But the joy of the heart will then be complete, when the fight of the flesh shall have ceased without.

Let the praises of God be in their mouth: and a two-edged sword in their hands;

To be avenged of the heathen: and to rebuke the people;

To bind their kings in chains: and their nobles with links of iron.

That they may be avenged of them, as it is written: Such honour have all his saints.

Psalms149