Psalms 149-150, Proverbs 1

Thoughts

Psalm 149

 Sing to the LORD a New Song

Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

• “Praise the LORD” is הַלְלוּיָהּ (hallelujah) / you all praise Yah
• “New song” reflects new praise 
• Worship is communal (“assembly”)
• God is both Maker (creator) and King (covenant ruler)

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.
Let the godly exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their beds.

• “Takes pleasure” God loves His creation
• “Godly” here is חֲסִידִים (ḥasidim) comes from the root חֶסֶד (ḥesed) steadfast love
• Praise on the bed suggests non-stop praise

Let the high praises of God be in their throats
and two-edged swords in their hands,
to execute vengeance on the nations
and punishments on the peoples,
to bind their kings with chains
and their nobles with fetters of iron,

• The “two-edged sword” (חֶרֶב פִּיפִּיּוֹת a sword of two mouths) God’s justice

to execute on them the judgment written!
This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the LORD!

• His people will in obedience execute judgement 
• “It would be a sad thing for any one to misuse this text: lest any warlike believer should be led to do so, we would remind him that the execution must not go beyond the sentence and warrant; and we have received no warrant of execution against our fellow men.” (Spurgeon)

Psalm 150

Praise God in His Sanctuary

Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!

• Where God is praised 
• Heaven and earth are joined as  praise is not confined to one location.

Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!

• For what God is praised 
• His mighty acts and who He is

Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

• How God is praised
• Instruments and volume range 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!

• Who praises God
• “Everything that has breath” includes all living creatures 

Proverbs 1

Proverbs is primarily associated with Solomon, but additional figures (Agur, Lemuel, “the wise”) are acknowledged. 

• 1 Kings 4:29-33

Wisdom: חָכְמָה (ḥokhmāh)..skillful living, not just intelligence or knowledge (Exodus 31:1-3)

• Wisdom ≠ Law. Wisdom gives patterns, not commands and requires discernment
• For example: “A gentle answer turns away wrath” is not guaranteed outcome

Similar collections existed in Egypt and Babylon, and some material parallels Egyptian texts such as The Teaching of Amenemope.

The goal of the book: forming people who live wisely and rightly before God and others.

Central thesis: the fear of the LORD as the foundation of all true wisdom.

• Sets a contrast as the wise vs. the fool

 Parental Instruction

• We start with instruction to a child from a father and mother
• Parental teaching is shown to be ‘a graceful garland for your head’

Warning Against the Way of the Wicked

• A warning against being enticed into violence and greed from bad company
• Evil is seductive, giving someone false hope of belonging and reward.
• The hidden irony: those who set traps for others ultimately trap themselves.
• The path of sinners is shown as deadly

Wisdom’s Public Rebuke

• Wisdom is personified as a woman 
• She calls in public spaces 
• Wisdom rebukes sinners
• Those who refuse wisdom eventually lose the ability to respond when they need help.
• Wisdom promises security and peace to those who listen

Application

Psalm 149 teaches us who we belong to. We have a God who delights in His people and calls them to faithful obedience.  Psalm 150 reminds us why we exist. Praise is no longer limited to Israel, it belongs to everything that has breath!  Proverbs 1 confronts us with how we must live. Wisdom offers security and peace, but will you refuse to listen?