Psalms 149:6 - Meaning and Application

The Israel of God is pictured here as triumphing over their enemies. That is both a cause for praise and a reward for praise. Those who truly thank God for their peace and safety will also be blessed with victory.

This can also be read as another part of their praise in (Psalm 149:6). Let the high praises of God be in their mouths, and then let them, in a holy zeal for his honor, take a two-edged sword in their hands to fight his battles against the enemies of his kingdom.

This applies, first, to the many victories God gave his people Israel over the nations of Canaan and other peoples marked for destruction. Moses and Joshua began this work. When they taught Israel the high praises of the Lord, they also put a two-edged sword in their hands. David did the same. He was the sweet singer of Israel, and also the captain of their armies. He taught the children of Judah how to use the bow (2 Samuel 1:18), and taught their hands to fight, just as God had taught his own.

So David and the people went on in victory, fighting the Lord’s battles and avenging Israel’s wrongs on those who had oppressed them. They carried out vengeance on the heathen, such as the Philistines, Moabites, and Ammonites, and punishment on the peoples for all they had done against God’s people (2 Samuel 8:1 and following, Psalm 149:7). Their kings and nobles were taken captive (Psalm 149:8), and on some of them the written judgment was carried out, as Joshua did to the kings of Canaan, Gideon to the princes of Midian, and Samuel to Agag. The honor of this belonged to all the Israel of God, and they gave all the glory back to him in their hallelujahs.

Jehoshaphat’s army had the high praises of God in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands at the same time, for they went out to war singing God’s praises, and then their sword did its work (2 Chronicles 20:23). Some apply this also to the time of the Maccabees, when the Jews sometimes won great victories over those who oppressed them. If it seems strange that the meek should be so severe, even against kings and nobles, one thing justifies it, the judgment written. They did not act from personal hatred, revenge, or violent politics. They acted by God’s command and under his direction. Saul lost his kingdom for refusing a command like this.

So the kings of the earth who will be used to destroy New Testament Babylon will only be carrying out the judgment written (Revelation 17:16-17). But since no such special commands can be shown now, this passage does not justify violence by subjects against rulers, or by rulers against subjects, or by either side against neighbors, under the excuse of religion. Christ never meant for his gospel to spread by fire and sword, or for his righteousness to be produced by human anger. When God’s high praises are in our mouths, we should have an olive branch of peace in our hands.

Second, this points to Christ’s victories by the power of his gospel and grace over spiritual enemies, in which all believers are more than conquerors. The word of God is the two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). It is not enough to have it in our armor. We must also have it in our hands, as our Master did when he said, “It is written.”

With this two-edged sword, the first preachers of the gospel won a glorious victory over the powers of darkness. Judgment came on the gods of the heathen through the conviction and conversion of those who had long worshiped them, and through the fear and confusion of those who would not repent (Revelation 6:15). The strongholds of Satan were torn down (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Great men trembled at the word, as Felix did. Satan, the god of this world, was cast out, just as the judgment against him had said. This is the honor of all Christians, that their holy faith has been so victorious.

With this same two-edged sword, believers fight against their own sinful desires and, through God’s grace, conquer and kill them. The sin that once ruled them is crucified. Self, which once sat as king, is bound with chains and brought under the yoke of Christ. The tempter is defeated and bruised under their feet. This honor belongs to all the saints.

The full completion of this will come on the great day of judgment, when the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints to judge all people (Jude 1:14-15). Then vengeance will be carried out on the heathen (Psalm 9:17), and lasting punishment will come upon the peoples. Kings and nobles who threw off the bands and cords of Christ’s rule (Psalm 2:3) will not be able to throw off the chains and fetters of his wrath and justice. Then the judgment written will be carried out, for the secrets of all hearts will be judged according to the gospel. All the saints will share this honor, for, as those who sit with Christ in judgment, they will judge the world (1 Corinthians 6:2). In view of that coming day, let them praise the Lord and keep serving Christ faithfully as his servants and soldiers to the end of their lives.