Vengeance and Warring Through Songs of Worship - Psalms 149-150

 Psalms 149:6 (ESV)

Let the high praises of God be in their throats

and two-edged swords in their hands,

Before we look at the above lines of this song, let’s read again the opening lines:

Psalms 149:1 (ESV)

Praise the LORD!

Sing to the LORD a new song,

his praise in the assembly of the godly!

In verse one the recipients of this song are told to sing and praise God, even with a new song.   In verse six they are told to pick up a sword.   That contrast is the point and theme of this song for Israel.   What the writer is telling them is that the praise they give God is as a sword in their hands against their enemies.  Praise, singing, is a weapon in the mouths of the saints to defeat the enemies of God.    Note one commentary on this:

(Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) While it does refer to the nations as subservient to God’s people (Isa. 60:10, 14; 61:5) and to their punishment (60:12), it does not envisage God’s people themselves participating in that vengeance (Isa. 63:3–5 comments that Yahweh will execute “vengeance” without human agents). Any kind of literal interpretation of such militaristic language is particularly problematic in the postexilic period, in which this psalm was composed, when Judah had no standing army under the Persian Empire. The best key for interpreting this enigmatic sword is to be found in its parallel poetic line and in its neighboring psalm. The meaning of “a double-edged sword in their hands” is qualified by the praise of God in their mouths. In other words, Judah’s power for punishment on the peoples lies in their worship of God.

As Paul is telling us to put “off” the old nature and put “on” the new nature, he ends that instruction with this thought:

Colossians 3:16 (ESV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Our singing and worshiping is a weapon to use against God’s enemies.  Israel is being told to worship and that will be a two-edged sword that God uses to defeat their enemies.  It is God who exacts vengeance.  But, He asks us to worship Him in these tough times through the praise and worship in song and that becomes the sword He uses to fight for us.   Sing praises to today and the enemy will flea.