Psalm 149
September 10, 2023
Heavenly Father,
In this assembly of faithful people who believe in you and believe your Holy Word, we acknowledge your greatness over and over again with new-made songs of praise and thanksgiving. We praise you, our maker, for the mercy and undeserved favor evident in your promise of salvation and the hope of a new eternal home with you. We praise you for the wisdom and strength you give us to traverse this increasingly broken and difficult world. We praise you for your Word which instructs us and guides us and comforts us and prompts us to trust you in all things. We praise you for calling this body of believers who assemble here in obedience to your Word and who are committed to following you and answering your appeal to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
You are the one true God who promises to defeat your enemies, the enemies that appear this day to be running loose in this world causing untold harm and increasingly, harm against those who believe in you. We read in your Word that you will one day punish your enemies, that those who trust in you will be vindicated.
How long, O Lord, will we wait for your judgment against the wicked? We read that all principalities and powers will be defeated. We know that the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. And whatever we make of the place your people will have in the promised vengeance against the nations, it will be your doing solely with the praise of You on their lips. Your Word, the double edged sword of the Spirit, will go before, executing righteous judgement when the time is right. We trust “the strife will not be long; this day the noise of battle, the next, the victor’s song.”
Meanwhile, may your people rejoice in their maker and be glad in their King. May they praise you with all means possible including dancing and musical instruments and song. For you delight in your people and crown the humble with victory. May your people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy, even on their beds.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray.
And all God’s people say, AMEN