Psalm 149 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 149 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Verse 2Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Verse 3Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
Verse 4For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
Verse 5Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.
Verse 6Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,
Verse 7to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
Verse 8to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron,
Verse 9to execute on them the judgment decreed. This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the Lord!
Devotion
Campaign rallies, speeches and chants, signs and flags a-waving -- our country has seen and heard plenty of acts of praise recently. And tonight the faithful will gather in hopes of celebration and singing, anticipating victory after a hard-fought campaign.
The Psalmist certainly speaks of this kind of praise -- of dancing and rejoicing by people who have tasted victory. But he doesn't end there. For the psalmist, the praising is to continue as God's people wholeheartedly work to bring God's justice to the world. They are to free those held captive by despair and indignity. They are to bind up the brokenhearted and offer words of encouragement.
Why should we praise? Because God has created us. Because God takes delight in us. Because God is our maker, savior, keeper and defender. How should we praise? With song and dance, with acts of mercy and shouts of justice. In all ways and with all things, may we praise the Lord!
Prayer
Almighty God, we praise you because you are our maker and source of salvation. Open our eyes wide to see your creation and to reach out in your loving name. Amen.