"When godly men give battle to the powers of evil, each conflict is high praise unto the God of goodness." - Charles Spurgeon
"It is an honor to engage in executing or carrying out the purposes of God...It is an honor which pertains to 'all the saints' - to all who love and fear God - to be engaged in carrying out or executing His plans... man's highest honor here...is to carry out the purposes of the Lord." - Barnes' Notes
Your life as a Christian matters! Your life counts! Are you fully aware of that?
Do you realize that you are called - as a saint of God - to the highest honor imaginable to mankind?
What is that "feat" which is considered to be so honorable?
You are called to "engage in executing the purposes of God." From the "foundation of the world," you were called to "carry out His plans" - "the purposes of the Lord."
The Expositor's Bible Commentary explained it in this way - "Those who have been adorned with Jehovah's salvation have the subjugation of the world to God's rule committed to them."
However, it is important to add that this great effort is never done without a battle. It involves intense warfare on the part of the "soldier of the Lord."
We see this depicted for us in Psalm 149.
On our first glance at this Psalm, we notice words such as - "Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song...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 the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds."
However, the tone then changes and we see these words - "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..."
David concludes this psalm with these words - "...this honor have all His saints. Praise ye the LORD." In other words, "this honor" - which has the full support and defense of the LORD - is a subject of praise and thanksgiving. It leads the saints to shout - "Hallelujah!" - for they are permitted to be employed in carrying out the divine plans or in accomplishing God's great designs.
Why the change in tone?
Why didn't David stop at the mention of "praise in the dance" and "sing aloud upon their beds"?
This is such a wonderful picture. Why disturb it?
Isn't this how some Christians want life to be depicted - as a life of ease and pleasure - typified by the word - "bed"?
But, is that realistic?
In this Psalm, David describes what is realistic for the saint.
He portrays that God's work in this world calls for the "stroke" as well as the "song." He hints at the fact that there are evils which must be actively dealt with in a spirit of war. Hence, the Christian life becomes a combination of adoration and conflict.
"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand."
Notice how each feature for the believer is emphatic. It is not just "praises" that are required - but "high praises." It is not just a "sword" that is required - but a specific kind - a "two-edged sword."
"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth..."
This can be looked at in several ways. First of all, the saints of God have the "high praises" or the deeds of God in their throat. This is the subject matter. Secondly, they sing songs the most sublime - "the high praises" - with the loudest voice. This is the manner in which it is done. Thirdly, the "high praises" are depicted as more than mere praise - simply because of their ability and effect - they engage high and lofty aims...carry out the great designs of God...and execute the eternal purposes of the Most High - as seen in the glorious triumph over His enemies.
But besides the "high praises" "in their mouth," the "saints" are called upon to keep a "two-edged sword in their hand."
They cannot always remain on their "beds." They have to be ready to fight.
"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand."
In a holy zeal for the Lord's honor, they must take the "two-edged sword in their hand" to fight His battles against the enemies of His kingdom. This "two-edged sword" is none other than "the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
For some today, there is an over-emphasis on "worship" and a disregarding, slighting, or neglecting of the "word of God." This must never be! Both are most definitely needed in this final fight!
Read what Charles Spurgeon had to say on this matter - "...we sing joyfully and war earnestly with evil of every kind. Our weapons are not carnal, but they are mighty, and wound with both back and edge. The word of God is all edge; whichever way we turn it, it strikes deadly blows at falsehood and wickedness. If we do not praise, we shall grow sad in our conflict, and if we do not fight, we shall become presumptuous in our song. The verse indicates a happy blending of the chorister and the crusader."
William Taylor offered this comment - "Praise and power go ever hand in hand. The two things act and react upon each other. An era of spiritual force in the Church is always one of praise; and when there comes some grand outburst of sacred song, we may expect that the people of God are entering upon some new crusade for Christ."
It is when the Christians engage in the "high praises" of God and take up (speak it forth, claim it, stand upon) the "sword of the Spirit" - the Word of God - then God goes into action - "executing vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people...binding their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron...executing upon them the judgment written..."
In other words, He overthrows all evil...displays His justice against evildoers...reduces His greatest enemies to shame...renders them helpless ...restrains the chief powers of evil...inflicts punishment upon them for the wrongs they have done to His people... makes them prisoners of war...and ultimately destroys them.
And to think - this is what God does in the "background" whenever His people - "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand."
How important do you suppose it is that you obey Him in doing this?
Right now, there are diabolic enemies seeking to take away our Christian freedoms - seeking to totally annihilate every Christian from the face of the earth.
In his Psalm, David instructed us on how to fight.
But, that is it - we have to fight! No one else will do it for us!
You cannot expect to stay in "bed" - so to speak - and win the battle! Those days of "ease in Zion" are over!
It's time to fight the battles of the Lord! It's time to engage in executing the purposes of God.
You have been given this "honor." There is no greater one!
So, saint of God, continuously offer God "high praises" - speaking of His mighty acts loudly and unashamedly - while allowing nothing to stop you!
At the same time, pray, claim, and speak forth the Word of God against the evil in your land.
And God will do the rest!
You will then see His will done on earth as it is in heaven!
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved