Matthew Henry Devotional (Psalm 149:6-9)
"6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand"-Psalm 149:6
"The word of God is the two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12), the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17), which it is not enough to have in our armoury, we must have it in our hand also, as our Master had, when he said, It is written."
My comments: In recent times I have been sensing more and more of an urgency about the need for us to seek to know God's Word, to meditate on it and memorize much of it. I have sensed this especially when it comes to reaching out to the lost with the gospel. God's Word is one of our chief weapons, right next to prayer, when we are out there in the battlefield of lost souls. The more we get into the Word and esteem it highly, the more effective we will be in our witnessing labors.
"7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment-- This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!"-Psalm 149:7-9
"Now, (1.) With this two-edged sword the first preachers of the gospel obtained a glorious victory over the powers of darkness; vengeance was executed upon the gods of the heathen, by the conviction and conversion of those that had been long their worshippers, and by the consternation and confusion of those that would not repent (Rev. 6:15); the strongholds of Satan were cast down (2 Chr. 10:4, 5); great men were made to tremble at the word, as Felix; Satan, the god of this world, was cast out, according to the judgment given against him. This is the honour of all Christians, that their holy religion has been so victorious."
My comments: I say a hearty Amen to that! In these days of soft, pacifistic, defeated type of "Christian living", we desperately need an expression of the original; a mighty, pro-active, militant kind of Christianity, spiritually speaking of course. John Wesley said, “Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.” May the LORD raise up such soldiers of the cross in these last days.
"(2.) With this two-edged sword believers fight against their own corruptions, and, through the grace of God, subdue and mortify them; the sin that had dominion over them is crucified; self, that once sat king, is bound with chains and brought into subjection to the yoke of Christ; the tempter is foiled and bruised under their feet. This honour have all the saints."
My comments: Indeed, God's Word gives the victory over our own sin and temptation, as we apply it to our hearts and lives. It sheds light on dark areas that are sometimes hidden deep within, and brings necessary conviction as it speaks to us about those areas.
"The complete accomplishment of this will be in the judgment of the great day, when the Lord shall come with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, Jude 14, 15. Vengeance shall then be executed upon the heathen (Ps. 9:17), and punishments, everlasting punishments, upon the people. Kings and nobles, that cast away the bands and cords of Christ's government (Ps. 2:3), shall not be able to cast away the chains and fetters of his wrath and justice. Then shall be executed the judgment written, for the secrets of men shall be judged according to the gospel. This honour shall all the saints have, that, as assessors with Christ, they shall judge the world, 1 Co. 6:2. In the prospect of that let them praise the Lord, and continue Christ's faithful servants and soldiers to the end of their lives."
My comments: Even so, come Lord Jesus, come! Until You come help us to occupy diligently in the spreading of your gospel and advancement of Your kingdom on earth. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
