Psa 149:1-5 | Clarke | e4.org | 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 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 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 .

‏ Psalms 149:1-5

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 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 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.

Verse 2. In him that made him] Let them remember in their exultations to give all glory to the Lord; for he is the Author of their being and their blessings. And let them know that he is their King also; that they should submit to his authority, and be guided and regulated in their hearts and conduct by his laws.

Verse 3. Let them praise his name in the dance] bemachol, with the pipe, or some kind of wind music, classed here with toph, the tabor or drum, and kinnor, the harp. " machol," says Parkhurst, "some fistular wind-instrument of music, with holes, as a flute, pipe, or fife, from chal, to make a hole or opening." I know no place in the Bible where machol and machalath mean dance of any kind; they constantly signify some kind of pipe.

Verse 4. The Lord taketh pleasure in his people] The pleasure or good will of God is in his people: he loves them ardently, and will load them with his benefits, while they are humble and thankful; for,

He will beautify] yephaer, he will make fair, the meek, anavim, the lowly, the humble with salvation, bishuah; which St. Jerome thus translates, Et exaltabit mansuetos in Jesu, "And he will exalt the meek in Jesus." Whether this rendering be correct or not, there is no other way by which the humble soul can be exalted, but by JESUS, as the redeeming Saviour.

Verse 5. Let the saints be joyful in glory] Let them be gloriously joyful: seeing themselves so honoured and so successful, let them be joyful. God has put glory or honour upon them; let them give him the thanks due to his name.

Sing aloud upon their beds.] While they are reclining on their couches. At their festal banquets, let them shout the praises of the Lord. In imitation of this we often have at our public entertainments the following words sung, taken from the Vulgate of Psalm cxv. 1: NON NOBIS DOMINE NON NOBIS; sed NOMINI TUO da GLORIAM! super MISERICORDIA TUA et VERITATE TUA. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake." Let them mingle their feasting with Divine songs. This reclining on couches, while they take their food, is still practised in Asiatic countries.