Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

willing to look even more foolish than this, but I will be held in honor by the girls of whom you have spo- ken!’” (2 Sam. 6:21, 22) Not everyone will dance before the Lord as it is contrary to their nature and ex- pression of worship but they who have been healed and transformed by the grace of Christ can appreciate when someone expresses their joy before the Lord: “Then, walking and leaping, and prais- ing God, he went into the Temple with them.” (Acts 3:8)

“Let the faithful rejoice in this honor. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.” (5)

It is an honor to be a part of God’s family of faith, it is an honor to sing to him and rejoice with in- struments and dancing. It is an honor to wear the crown of the Lord’s righteousness. The praise expe- rienced in the assembly can be taken home to each individual’s place of rest, the new song of the congregation becomes the night song of the believer. True praise can be sung in the bed of the individual and the melodies of God become the antidotes to fear that breeds in the dark.

II

A SHARP SWORD IN THEIR HAND - 6-9 The Sword

“Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword [two-edged sword] in their hands–“ (6)

Grace changes everything; the natural sword of the Old Testament moves from the “hands” to the “mouth” under the New Covenant! “He (Jesus) held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two- edged sword came from his mouth.” (Rev. 1:16) The sword is no longer an instrument of physical death but the living word of Jesus that is read, believed, spoken and sung; “…and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17) In the natural history of Israel this passage is referring to the days of Nehemiah when the workers who were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem carried their weapons of war. “The common laborers car- ried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. All the builders had a sword belted to their side.” (Neh. 4:17, 18) Joyful worship that celebrates and exalts God’s Word brings defeat to the spiritual forces of darkness: • “…to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,” (7) The New Covenant reverses the curse; the Good News of Christ extends blessing to the nations: “God promised this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ And so it is: All who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.” (Gal. 3:8, 9) The punishment that was supposed to be on the people can now be turned into the favor and love of God as individuals accept Jesus as their savior. • “…to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains,...” (8) T his is referring to the horrific treatment of the defeated kings that was executed by the heathen nations: “The king of Baby- lon made Zedekiah watch as all his sons were killed. Then they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.” (2 Kgs. 25:7) ‘Christians have no commission of vengeance; it is theirs to execute the command of mercy, and that alone.’ 6 Our two-edged sword de- feats the spiritual rulers in the heavenly places: “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12) This small • “…to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glory of his faithful ones.” (9) Moses sang these chilling words of prophecy from the Lord in his final Song before his death. They were the written judgments upon the nations that would try to destroy the people of God: “’Now I raise my hand to heaven and declare, As surely as I live, when I sharpen my flashing sword and begin to carry out jus- tice, I will bring vengeance on my enemies and repay those who hate me.’” (Deut. 32:41) Under the Old Covenant God raised up kings and mighty warriors to execute his judgment on these natural enemies. Under the New Covenant of grace that is permeated with songs of praise and dances of joy, all of his “faithful” followers have authority “to execute the judgment” over the devil and his dominion. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Rom. 16:20) Knowing that he stands in the invincible might and grace of the Lord, the psalmist ends his song with a dance and shout of “Hallelujah”! (9) psalm arms us with the explosive weapon of the song of grace and love that tears down the strongest opposition of the enemy!

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