What does Psalm 149:7 mean?

When Israel came into the Promised Land, God commanded them to erase the horrific evils of Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4–5). In this psalm, the writer is calling on the people of Israel to live out their purpose. This includes both praise of the Lord and enacting His explicit instructions about those evil nations (Psalm 149:6). The terms used here translated as "nations" and "peoples" are goyim' and ummim'. The first is very often a reference to the Gentile world, while the second is slightly more general.

This instruction is tied to God's previous commands (Psalm 149:9). The psalmist is not setting up a permanent call for God-believers to wage holy war. Israel's objective—as related in this verse—was to act as God's punishment on the evil cultures of their era. Non-Israelite nations were notorious in Old Testament times for oppressing Israel and practicing paganism, especially idolatry. Unfortunately, instead of eliminating idolatry, Israel often adopted idolatry. This was one rea-son Israel and then Judah became captives to the Assyrians and the Babylonians (2 Chronicles 36:17–21). In Nehe-miah's day Gentile nations tried to disrupt the work of repairing Jerusalem's walls, so the workers had to keep swords handy as they built (Nehemiah 4:17–18).

The reference to Zion (Psalm 149:2) means this psalm was written well after Israel had entered Canaan (2 Samuel 7:5). By then, Israel's opportunity to complete God's initial mission was all but gone. The drive behind this song is probably more forward-looking, anticipating God's even-tual victory over sin (Psalm 45:3–6).

Today, as well, a battle with evil rages (Ephesians 6:12). Yet this is a spiritual battle, not one for territory or rule over earth (John 18:36). Believers are commanded to put on the armor of God, which describes our spiritual tools and resources (Ephesians 6:10–18).