PRAISE AND SWORDS
Susan Murray
Today’s Scripture: “Let the high praises of God be in their throats, and two-edged swords in their hands.” Psalm 149:6, ESV
Theme: Singing praises to God is like having a sword in our hands. Pick up your weapon; it is your worship!
OLD SWORDS
I have to confess that I am not familiar with this verse. I am aware of the Psalms' call to worship God with words, music, dance, and hands lifted high. A sword though? Really? Especially if you continue reading further to verse 7 where it says, “to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples.” So, I had to do some studying, praying, and thinking to grasp what holding a sword means.
This Psalm refers to a time when the Israelites, God’s chosen people, were entering the promised land with the instruction to destroy everyone without mercy (Deuteronomy 7:1-2). This was God using His people to bring judgment on people groups who worshipped other gods, sacrificed their children, and practiced other abominations. God gave them the victory they could not achieve for themselves which led to “high praise in their throats.” Reading about the use of the sword in the Old Testament has always left me very uncomfortable because I tend to think of God only as love and mercy. Yet God is a God of justice against evil (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). To know God is to accept all of Him, both justice and mercy, and to praise all aspects of Him.
NEW SWORDS
There is no call to bring swords in the New Testament. In fact, during Jesus' arrest, Peter pulled out a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. “But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:51, ESV)
We now have a different sword, God’s Word, the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE
When we examine our lives by comparing them to Scripture, we are faced with the truth that we have not measured up to God’s standards either. We have worshiped other gods such as money, power, popularity, possessions, and more. Justice demands that we, too, face the sword of God’s justice. Yet, when God came to earth as Jesus, He did not come with a sword. If He had come first with a sword, no one on earth would have survived. Jesus came to bear the sword of God’s judgment on the cross in our place. He lived the perfect life we are unable to live yet died, taking on God’s judgment, which we deserved, so that we could be spared. Jesus came to bring the mercy of God instead of the sword. That makes Him worthy of our worship and praise.
Jesus promised in John 14:2-3 that He was coming back and when He does, those who are His disciples—those that He knows—will be safe with Him. Revelations 19:11-16 describes Jesus’ return. He will return on a white warrior horse with a sword as His tongue, the Word of truth by which He will judge the living and the dead. He will bring God’s final sword of judgment on all those who reject Him and He will save those who have received Him.
Make It Personal: What kind of person do you see when you think of God and Jesus? Do you see Him only as angry and full of wrath, or do you see Him only as loving, gentle and filled with grace? He is both. What does the cross tell you about God? Do you see both God’s love and justice? Does that cause your heart to sing in worship? If not, then what on this earth has captured your worship? Jesus is calling you to come and worship Him. It’s never too late.
Pray: Lord Jesus, You are the Word of Life. Please show me Your glory in the Bible so I may praise you now and FOREVERMORE, for that is what You created me to do. Amen
Read: Psalm 95
Weekly Memory Verse: “Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.” Psalm 149:5, ESV