If you’re anything like me you likely have a long prayer list filled with petitions for family, friends, neighbors and church members. It is good and right to pray for one another as we walk through life in this broken world. We weep with those who weep as we pray for a broken marriage, a lonely widow, the devastation of a city from a hurricane, or strength during cancer treatments. But one day, in the new Jerusalem, our petitions will give way to only praise. Therefore, our prayer life should be filled with praise now. Psalm 149 gives us words to praise the Lord, teaching us how to practice the very heart of prayer to the Lord, the One who takes pleasure in His people.

Adorned with Salvation

The psalmist calls the covenant community to sing a new song to their Maker, King and Savior:

               “Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the  godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds” (Psalm 149:1-5).

               The proper response to the Lord adorning His people with salvation is praise. The exhortations in these verses are beautiful and filled with rich emotion—praise, sing, be glad, rejoice, dance, make melody, exult! When God’s people consider, ponder, and meditate upon His salvation, they are filled with great joy! 

               Thanks be to Christ who has made it possible for believers to praise the Lord, especially for salvation. It is our privilege to sing a new song to the Lamb who was slain for our salvation, the Lion who reigns over the nations. As we ponder the redemption Christ has accomplished, we should sing for joy at all times, in all places, proclaiming His mercies to those around us and inviting them to be part of the people of God.  

Adorned for Judgment

The psalmist can’t speak of salvation without also speaking of judgment:

               “Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their noses with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the LORD” (Psalm 149:6-9).

               The reason we need salvation is because we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Apart from Christ everyone remains under God’s wrath and curse. However, those who are saved will actually participate in God’s judgment. This is an honor for God’s people because He is the perfectly just and righteous Judge.  

               How do we make sense of verses 6-9 as it applies to believers today? The New Testament teaches us that warfare for the Christian is spiritual. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Therefore, our weapons are spiritual—the Word of God, prayer, righteousness, the gospel of peace, salvation, and truth. (vv. 10-20).

               When Christ returns, however, He will execute vengeance on the nations. “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’” (Rev. 19:15-16). The only way to escape God’s wrath is to repent and believe in Christ, trusting in Him alone for salvation. Then on the final day of judgment we will join with Him in judgment. This truth should strengthen our prayer life for those who don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Make Acts 26:18 your prayer for unbelieving family and friends, “open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Jesus].”

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What prayers will you be glad to leave behind in the new Jerusalem? One day all your petitions will give way to praise. Begin now then to cultivate a prayer life filled with praise. Praise the Lord with other believers and praise Him when you’re alone, praise Him for who He is and praise Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do. At all times, in every place, praise the Lord!