Psalms 149 · The Lantern

Hallelujah. Sing unto HaShem a new song, and His praise in the assembly of the saints.

Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Let them praise His name in the dance; let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel 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 HaShem taketh pleasure in His people; He adorneth the humble with salvation.

Let the saints exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon 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 high praises of G-d be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;

To execute vengeance upon the nations, and chastisements upon the peoples;

To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

To execute upon them the judgment written; He is the glory of all His saints. Hallelujah.

Psalms149