Psalm 149: A Double-edged Sword

Today’s reading is Psalm 149.

Jehoshaphat, Not Nehemiah

This great psalm of praise seems to take a dark turn in the middle of vs. 6. These “chasid” sing praises with their throats while they wield two-edged swords in their hands, mowing down the people of the nations around them. Maybe. I guess it’s possible in the context of some events in the history of Israel that idea would fit in this psalm. Certainly, in the time of conquest, God used the Israelite nation as His arm of judgment to execute nations who had committed egregious sins as part of their idolatry. Equally as certain, there were times when deliverance for Israel from enemies who harmed them meant judgment on the nations who did them harm. As Isaiah 61:2 explains, the year of the Lord’s favor on one nation will be the day of vengeance on another. It’s possible this psalm, especially since it is compiled in the post-exilic period, calls to mind a situation like Nehemiah’s wall builders–working with one hand and carrying their weapon in the other (Nehemiah 4:15-23).

However, I don’t think that is what this psalm is saying. Keep in mind what we said yesterday about the humble, the meek. In this psalm, the meek are being adorned with salvation not the warriors. That is, the ones who trust God to bring vengeance and justice are adorned with salvation.

With that in mind, it seems the psalmist’s point is that the praises themselves are the two-edged sword. That is, those who don’t fret over evildoers, but who trust God to bring justice will see God bring the justice. The weapon they wield is not a literal two-edged sword, but their praise and worship become one because it calls the warrior God to fight on their behalf. This is not the picture of Nehemiah and his wall builders. It’s the picture of Jehoshaphat and his army in 2 Chronicles 20. Jehoshaphat prays, knowing his army is no match for the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. In 2 Chronicles 20:12, he says, “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (ESV). The Lord sends a prophet explaining God will defeat the enemy and the Judean army won’t have to do a thing. In 2 Chronicles 20:21-23, Jehoshaphat places the singers in front of his army who sang, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” When they began to sing praises, the Lord set an ambush against the enemy armies and they rose up against each other. Judah didn’t have to fight. Their praise and song was their weapon.

On a much smaller scale, this is akin to Proverbs 25:21-22. “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you” (ESV). Surely, our goal in this is not simply to heap the coals on the enemy for whom we are praying and whom we are learning to love. But, our best weapon is not to take up our own sword against the enemy, but rather to serve him or her and let God deal with it.

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19, ESV). When Israel praised God, they let God be the two-edged sword. He would execute vengeance when vengeance needed to be executed. He would punish the peoples and bind their kings. He would execute the judgment on them that was written.

This is honor for the Lord’s chasid, the Lord’s godly ones. It is honor for them to praise and worship God and leave vengeance up to Him. He will do it when it is the appropriate thing to do.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 149

PODCAST!!!

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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 148 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Psalm 123: I Lift Up My Eyes to the Heavens

Today’s reading is Psalm 123.

Higher Than the Hills

In Psalm 121, our pilgrim lifted his eyes to the hills. That was a bit vague. Were the hills an encouragement, reminding him of God who dwells on His holy hill? Or were they an obstacle on His journey to God’s house? Were they a reminder of the false gods and idols whose shrines and high places peppered the hills?

In Psalm 122, the pilgrim stood in Jerusalem. He had climbed his way up the hill to the Lord’s city. Yet, even here he still fears the contempt of the proud. Standing on the hill, he looks even higher. Now he looks to the heavens, but this time without ambiguity. He does not look to the “hosts of heavens.” He isn’t distracted by “heavenly beings” or “heavenly bodies.” He looks to the One enthroned in the heavens.

The pilgrim does not see God, of course. That doesn’t change where he looks. Like Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:12, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (ESV). In other words, both Jehoshaphat and the pilgrim psalmist did know precisely what to do. Look to the Lord. Wait on God. The pilgrim did the next right thing. He left Meshech and Kedar. He entered the Lord’s city. He called on the Lord. He trusted the Lord. Having done what God has asked him, he now waits on what the Lord promised him.

That is, at times, a hard wait. In those moments, we want to try harder. We want to do more. This leads us to do things like try to have a child with a concubine because Sarah hasn’t had a child yet. This leads us to do things like lie to the prince of the land about whether she is our wife or not. This leads us to do things like compromise with enemies or call on other nations like Egypt to deliver us. Yes, we are to do what God has asked. Yes, we are to fulfill our responsibilities. However, at that point, we rest in our merciful God to fulfill His covenant with us–no matter how long it takes.

Let us keep our eyes locked on the source of all strength, victory, and mercy. Let us look to the One who is enthroned in the heavens.

Praise the Lord!

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 123 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Psalm 83: A Prayer for When Enemies Surround Us

Today’s reading is Psalm 83.

Our psalmist’s cry is intense. A coalition of enemies has arisen against Israel beyond compare. The coalition reminds us of the one Jehoshaphat faced in 2 Chronicles 20. However, this one is five times as intense. The Asaphite mentions 10 city-states or nations: Edom, Ishmaelites, Moab, Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, Tyre, and Asshur (Assyria). The thing is we can’t find any time in Israel’s history a coalition like this actually came against God’s people. While 2 Chronicles 20 may give us a pragmatic look at what facing this kind of enemy would be like, the psalm wasn’t likely written during that time. Though, no doubt, if already written, it would be a perfect prayer for that time. However, the mention of Assyria likely puts this psalm later than Jehoshaphat’s time.

Likely, our psalmist is writing in extreme terms. He pictures traditional enemies of Israel all gathering together at the same time not to describe the literal events but to describe the perceived danger. These enemies are from the north, the west, the east, and the south. God’s people are surrounded. What chance does Israel have against such an all-encompassing coalition? God is her only hope. And so the psalmist prays.

I can’t help but think of spiritual Israel’s plight today. Do you ever feel like Christ’s kingdom is surrounded by enemies? Does it seem like a coalition is against us? There are the militant atheists, the false Christianities, followers of pagan deities, false religions, activists for immorality, and even those who just think none of it matters. And while “tolerance” is the modern buzzword and “coexist” decorates a million bumpers, activists among all these opponents make it clear they want God’s kingdom in Christ wiped out and Christ’s name forgotten (or at least His teaching). Or perhaps, they tell us, they wouldn’t actually wipe us out if we would just submit and keep quiet.

What can we do? Exactly what this psalmist does. We can pray. And while the psalm was not likely written in the days of Jehoshaphat, the similarity between the two prompts me to look to those events in which Jehoshaphat admitted the enemy was too big for him and for his army. I love his prayer, “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12, ESV).

Our enemy is cunning, baffling, and powerful. The casualties in this war discourage us sometimes to the point of desperation. At times it seems like we cannot possibly avail against the horde arrayed against us. But our God is bigger than all our enemies. He will fight on our behalf. We must merely show up for the battle and show up in prayer. Whether on an earthly battlefield or a cosmic one, our God always wins.

Hang on to Him no matter what.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 83.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What admonition do you receive from Psalm 83?