Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 149

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 149 Praise the Lord in the congregationo of the saints—He will beautify the meek with salvation.
1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of ^asaints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that ^amade him: let the children of ^bZion be joyful in their ^cKing. 3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will ^abeautify the meek with salvation^a. 5 Let the saints be joyful in ^aglory: let them ^bsing aloud upon their ^cbeds. To Prevail With God Jacob 'prevailed with the Lord' thus he was renamed Israel. The key to being one who 'prevails with the Lord' is to be one who is of the mind-set to conform with the mind and will of God. It is they who are the 'meek' of the earth, which are not the weak of the earth, but those who are strong and do stand up in their righteous unto God to follow in the path and ways of righteousness, even in the footsteps of the Lord. They are they of whom it is that those of they world do not prevail against them, they do not give in to the forces of evil, but rather stand undaunted in the strength of the Lord. And it is they who, like Jacob, will be called by the name of Israel, having also 'Prevailed in the Lord' against the forces of the world.	4^a he will beautify the meek with salvation The meek are those who submit themselves to the mind and will of the Lord, who do prevail in righteousness with the Lord. They are 'lowly in heart' in that they are not given to pride, but to humble themselves before the Lord. But opposed to some concepts often presented, the meek do not fear and tremble before the arm of flesh. The fear of man is not in them, only the fear of God. Being meek is not to stand with head bowed and allow the wicked of the world to have their way. The stand, not influenced by the presures of the world, to live and act according to the mind and will of God. The meek are the strong of the earth, not the weak as often portrayed. He takes a much stronger man to stand against the trends and ways of the world and it society, than to merely be swept up in it. King Zedekiah was not meek. He was a weak king who feared men more than God and easily gave into the presures of the wicked princes of the Jews in his day. A 'meek' king would have been a strong and righteous king, not given to the presures of men. This is the true concept of what it meant by who the meek are. It is an Alma and an Amuleck standing firm and strong against the wicked who did imprison them. It is a pair of brother prophets, Lehi and Nephi who stand strong and firm against the wicked of the world. It is an Abinidi, who preaching the word of God before a wicked king and his court even though they would torture and murder him for his actions. These are not weak characters. One who is meek and submits themselves unto the Lord, are not weak. They are the strongst of men. Christ himself is the 'meek and lowly lamb of God'. Yet his strength was above all men as he suffered and atoned for the sins of the world according to the will of the Father.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a ^atwoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.