All the congregation are invited to praise God for his mercies, Psa 149:1-3. Their great privileges, Psa 149:4, Psa 149:5. Their victories, Psa 149:6-9.
This seems to be an epinikion, or song of triumph, after some glorious victory; probably in the time of the Maccabees. It has been also understood as predicting the success of the Gospel in the nations of the earth. According to the Syriac, it concerns the new temple, by which the Christian Church is meant. It has no title in the Hebrew, nor in any of the Versions, and no author's name.
Verse 1
Sing unto the Lord a new song - That is, as we have often had occasion to remark, an excellent song, the best we can possibly pronounce. So the word חדש chadash is often understood; and so the word novus, "new," was often used among the Latin writers: -
Pollio amat nostram, quamvis sit rustica, musam.
Pollio et ipse facit.
Nova Carmina Virg. Ecl. iii., ver. 84.
Pollio loves my lines, although rude:
Pollio himself makes excellent odes.
Tamely and inexpressively translated by Dryden: - "Pollio my rural verse vouchsafes to read.
My Pollio writes himself."
O what a falling off is here!
Servius, in his comment on nova, says, magna, Miranda. Nova means great, admirable.
So on novum nectar, Ecl. v., ver. 71, he says, id est, magna dulcedo; "nectar of Excellent flavor."
Congregation of saints - The Israelites, who were, by profession and by injunction, a holy people.