Saturday September 11th 2021

Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Psalm 149 is one of the 48 psalms that the writer is unknown. The psalms were written over several centuries, beginning with Moses in the 15th century BC and spanning to the time of Ezra in the 4th century BC. There is no clear evidence of when the 149th Psalm was written or by whom. This Psalm praises the Lord for some victory that God had brought Israel to. However, there is no evidence in the Psalm itself as to which victory or when it may have happened.

As with most of the Psalms, there is a message for God’s people then and now as well. Verse 1 says, “sing a new song,” that is what we do when we leave the world behind, turn our focus from the world, and set our path for Christ Jesus. The old music of the world does not have the magnetic pull that it once had. We are now singing new songs of excitement, joy, and praise because we live a new life. 

There is some misconception surrounding the phrase “God’s People,” some believe it refers to all people on the earth. At the heartbeat of our salvation, we become adopted children in the royal family of God (Ephesians 1:5), and it brings great pleasure to God. God’s people are those that have allowed their hearts, body, and souls to become the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The Holy Spirit of God dwells within us; Jesus has taken up residence in our hearts and souls when we accept Christ as our Savior. Consequently, when God sees us, He does not see the old person. He sees the new one, and He sees Christ in us. At the Baptism of Jesus, The Father said, “this is my son in whom I love, with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The Lord “takes delight in his people” because in His Son He is well pleased, and we are adopted sons and daughters of God. 

What an awe-inspiring, incredible thought to realize that he accepts us who belong to the Lord. He has reconciled us to Himself, He adores us, and has set His love and care on us, and He finds His delight in us. This love of God has nothing to do with our merit and worth because we have none. Everything we have, everything we do or ever will have, or accomplish is because of the love, mercy, and grace of God (John 15:4). 

The opening statement of the “Sermon on the Mount” tells the whole story, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Therefore, when we come to God, we must go with ourselves emptied of all worldly essence; we must come in absolute and complete humility. Once we have done this, we can claim the “Victory” over sin and death that Christ Jesus gave His life to attain for His people.