_The prophet exhorteth to praise God for his love to the church, and
for that power which he hath given to the church._
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, _and_ his praise in
the congregation of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be
joyful in their King.
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him
with the timbrel and harp.
For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek
with salvation.
Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their
beds.
_Let_ the high _praises_ of God _be_ in their mouth, and a two-edged
sword in their hand;
To execute vengeance upon the heathen, _and_ punishments upon the
people;
To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of
iron;
To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his
saints. Praise ye the LORD.
This Psalm is also a Psalm of thanksgiving for that infinite goodness
of God, his being merciful to his people; and for assuring them, by
his word, and by his promises of his good will towards them; and that
he will hear them, regard them, and have mercy upon them. To which
immense goodness of God, no thanks of his people can be equal. And
that treasure of mercy, which is greater than the whole world unto
afflicted consciences,—that God freely promises to his people his
blessing, in the seed of Abraham, and the remission of sins; and does
not regard their unworthiness in the gift;—that treasure of mercy, I
say, is greater than the mind of man is capable of conceiving.
This Psalm, therefore, (if we may so speak) is properly a Psalm of the
New Testament. Hence the Psalmist saith, “Sing unto the Lord a new
song:” showing that all praise is to be sung unto the king of Israel
and of Zion; whom all ought to laud with rejoicing, “upon their beds:”
that is, in the churches and temples where they meet for worship; as
the prophet Isaiah also mentions their temples, their altars, their
beds, and their couches, where Israel committed fornication; that is,
worshipped their idols.
And that also pertains to the New Testament where the Psalmist saith,
“And a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the
heathen, and to bind their kings with chains.” This is not to be
understood simply of the Jews or of the Mahometans, with respect to
any earthly tyranny; but this is the vengeance promised in the
scriptures; which the seed of Abraham, that is, the Israelites and the
apostles, should execute by the sword of the Spirit, by which they
should destroy idolatry in so many nations, and should put to shame
the wisdom of the whole world, as the apostle Paul saith. 2 Cor. x.