Psalms 149:1-9: a reflection

1Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. 2Let Israel rejoice in him who made them. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp! 4For the LORD takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation. 5Let the saints rejoice in honor. Let them sing for joy on their beds. 6May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hand, 7to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; 8to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9to execute on them the written judgment. All his saints have this honor. Praise the LORD!

This psalm of praise gives a tender reason for the joy of God's people: For the LORD takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation. The people are called to rejoice, to sing a new song, to be joyful in their King, and the ground of it is that God takes pleasure in them, delights in them; and more, he crowns the humble with salvation, adorning and honoring the lowly. God does not merely tolerate his people; he takes pleasure in them, delights in them, and honors the humble, crowning them with his salvation. The joy of the people rests on God's pleasure in them and his honoring of the humble.

Notice the two tender truths: God takes pleasure in his people, and crowns the humble with salvation. God is not indifferent to his people, nor merely tolerant of them; he takes pleasure in them, delights in them. And he honors the humble, the lowly, crowning them with salvation, adorning them with his deliverance. It is not the proud and self-important whom God crowns, but the humble; and it is his own people in whom he takes pleasure. God's disposition toward his people is delight, and his honor goes to the humble. He takes pleasure in his people and crowns the lowly with his salvation, a tender truth that grounds their joy. God delights in his people and adorns the humble.

That is worth resting in, for God takes pleasure in his people and crowns the humble with salvation. We can imagine God as indifferent to us, merely tolerating us, and can think that only the impressive and self-important are honored; but the psalm says God takes pleasure in his people and crowns the humble with salvation. God delights in his people, and honors the lowly. Do not imagine God indifferent to you, or think that only the proud and impressive are honored; God takes pleasure in his people and crowns the humble with salvation. Rest in the truth that God takes pleasure in his people and crowns the humble with salvation, delighting in you and honoring the lowly, as the psalm gives this as the ground of the people's joy; for God is not indifferent to his people but delights in them, and it is the humble, not the proud, whom he crowns with his salvation.

Lord, this psalm of praise gives a tender reason for the joy of your people: for the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. The people are called to rejoice, to sing a new song, to be joyful in their King, and the ground of it is that you take pleasure in them, delight in them; and more, you crown the humble with salvation, adorning and honoring the lowly. You do not merely tolerate your people; you take pleasure in them, and honor the humble. Show me the two tender truths: you take pleasure in your people, and crown the humble with salvation. You are not indifferent to your people, nor merely tolerant of them; you take pleasure in them, delight in them. And you honor the humble, the lowly, crowning them with salvation. It is not the proud and self-important whom you crown, but the humble; and it is your own people in whom you take pleasure. Your disposition toward your people is delight, and your honor goes to the humble. Let me rest in that, for you take pleasure in your people and crown the humble with salvation. I can imagine you as indifferent to me, merely tolerating me, and can think that only the impressive and self-important are honored; but the psalm says you take pleasure in your people and crown the humble with salvation. You delight in your people, and honor the lowly. Keep me from imagining you indifferent to me, or thinking that only the proud and impressive are honored; you take pleasure in your people and crown the humble with salvation, Lord. Help me rest in the truth that you delight in me and honor the lowly, crowning the humble with your salvation.