INTRODUCTION
OPENING SLIDE
• The sound of victory is like no other sound.
• The roar of the crowd.
• The celebration of a soldier returning home after the battle.
• The feeling of coming back from the doctor with a clear scan.
• There is nothing like the sound of victory!
• Everyone wants victory.
• Whether it's victory over fear, sin, discouragement, or difficult circumstances, we all long to overcome.
• Psalm 149 is a powerful reminder that victory is not something we earn by our own strength—it is something we receive and walk in when we align ourselves with God.
• A week ago we had our Narrow Path group at Hot Well Dunes.
• We didn't air down our tires to make it harder, but you usually do that for better grip on sand.
• I attempted to drive my truck up one hill several times, but I was unsuccessful each time.
• I was frustrated.
• However, I am stubborn, so I gave it one more try.
• As I built up speed before reaching the hill, my truck hit a spot that allowed for rapid acceleration; therefore, while forging up the hill, I stuck my arm out the window and pumped my fist in victory even before reaching the top.
• I wish we had video, but everyone saw it.
• I KNEW I had beat the hill before I reached the top because of that unexpected moment of acceleration.
• I was celebrating because I knew I won, even before I did.
• Psalm 149 teaches us something surprising!
God’s people don’t praise after they see victory—they praise before they see it.
• This psalm shows us how to live in the victory that God has already secured for His people.
• This Psalm is a call to worship, but it’s also a call to warfare.
• This is not a call to physical warfare, but rather a call to spiritual warfare.
• Victory for God’s people has always been tied to one thing: our connection with Him.
• Today, as we continue living out the mission of FCC, which is “Changing Lives by Connecting People with Christ,” God shows us in Psalm 149 how His victory becomes our victory.
• Let’s look at the concept of victory as we dive into Psalm 149.
Psalm 149:1–4 NET 2nd ed.
1 Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song. Praise him in the assembly of the godly.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Creator. Let the people of Zion delight in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing. Let them sing praises to him to the accompaniment of the tambourine and harp.
4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he exalts the oppressed by delivering them.
MAIN POINT 1 SLIDE
SERMON
I. Victory Begins With Praise
• Here is something interesting about the first three words of verse 1, Praise the Lord!
• As with many other Psalms, Psalm 149 reflects quite vividly the intense feeling of the author.
• His mood is distinctly one of extreme joy.
• The psalmist commands us to praise the Lord, not merely consider it or do it when we feel like it.
• We don’t wait until life feels good to praise; we praise because God is good, no matter what life feels like.
• One interesting aspect of Psalm 149 is its dual focus on joyful praise and divine justice.
• The psalm begins with a call for the faithful to rejoice and sing a new song to the Lord, celebrating God with music and dance.
• It portrays worship as a communal and enthusiastic act, emphasizing the delight God takes in His people.
• The command to praise the Lord is a call and command to center our hearts on God.
• The psalm opens with a call to praise by telling us to: Sing to the LORD a new song. Praise him in the assembly of the godly.
• Why does the psalmist call for us to sing a new song to the Lord?
• This is partly due to the fact that God consistently initiates new actions.
• A new song means a new season… a new testimony… a new reminder that He is still in control.
Notice that before any battle is mentioned, before any sword is raised, the people are praising.
• Why?
• Praise shifts our focus from our problems to God's power.
• Praise is the language of faith—it declares that God is worthy and able, even before we see the outcome.
• We will never experience victories in life without offering praise because when we do not center our hearts on God, we will center them on the things around us, the problems we face, and the battles we need to fight.
The lack of praising God will cause us to be so inwardly focused that we forget who we belong to, who we are, and the great power that our God has to bring victory in our lives!
• The end of verse 1 tells us that we are to praise Him all together!
• The assembly of the faithful are those who are loyal to God and devoted to His calling for their lives!
• In verse 2, the readers were given a reason to praise Him!
Psalm 149:2 NET 2nd ed.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Creator. Let the people of Zion delight in their King.
• In this context, the term "creator" does not refer to creation or the creation of mankind; instead, it signifies God making Israel a nation chosen to serve as a vessel for His glory.
• In verse three, we see that our praise of God is a time of celebration!
• We do not come together to be somber; we come together as a church to celebrate Him.
• Verse 4 says, For the LORD takes delight in his people; he exalts the oppressed by delivering them.
• Israel suffered exile because they were not devoted to God.
• However, they can rejoice because God does not keep His anger forever. Psalm 103:9.
• God delights in our praise, and He responds to it.
• Praise is not just a warm-up for the sermon or a tradition—it is spiritual warfare.
• When we praise, we are declaring that God is on the throne and that victory begins with Him.
• If you're feeling defeated, start praising.
• Praise even when you don't feel like it.
• Let your praise be your battle cry.
• Why?
• Victory begins when we realize that God delights in you; He is not waiting for you to be perfect.
• He is not simply tolerating you until you get it all together!
• Your praise brings God pleasure.
• Your worship invites His presence.
• And His presence always brings victory.
To win, we must first praise God, our homes, and our hearts.
• Let’s move to verses 5-6
Psalm 149:5–6 NET 2nd ed.
5 Let the godly rejoice because of their vindication. Let them shout for joy upon their beds.
6 May the praises of God be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands,
MAIN POINT 2 SLIDE
II. Victory Requires Surrender to God
• When you think about the concept of victory, what comes to your mind?
• Overpowering, outsmarting, or outworking your opponent?
• What if I challenged that thought by suggesting that, from a biblical and spiritual perspective, victory looks much different?
True victory in life is spiritual and eternal, and true victory in life comes from surrendering to God, not by your own work, cunning, or strength!
• Verse 5 says, “Let the godly rejoice because of their vindication. Let them shout for joy upon their beds.”
• That means worship and surrender are not limited to church services—they are a lifestyle.
• Even when you're alone, even when you're resting, your heart can be in a posture of surrender to God.
• Verse 5 drives home the point that this is surrender.
• This is trust.
• This is resting in God so fully that even in the quiet moments—on your bed, in the dark, when the mind usually races—you can still praise Him.
• Verse 6 adds a powerful thought.
• ‘May the praises of God be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands.’
• This is a picture of balance—worship and warfare.
• But before we can carry the sword of spiritual authority, we must carry a surrendered heart.
• True victory doesn't come from striving—it comes from yielding.
• Surrender is not weakness; it is the doorway to God's strength.
Psalms, Volume 2 B. God’s Judgment—“The Glory of All His Saints” (149:5–9)
When rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, it had been the practice of some to keep a weapon in one hand while working with the other (Neh 4:17); others wore swords as they labored (4:18)
• Verse 7 will speak of vengeance; the pagan nations will face judgment one day, and in the context of the Psalm, if this section ties back to Nehemiah’s time, then the future safety of the nation would have been in jeopardy so long as the hostile nations were left unrestrained
• This reality would account for the psalm’s concern that punishment be executed.
• As a matter of fact, Israel was never free from the danger of assault by various adversaries; therefore, many consider the psalm to be more messianic and end-times in nature, looking forward to “the day of the LORD” when the people of God will be given the final victory and all those opposing God will be brought to judgment.
• Surrender means letting God define the battle, the strategy, and the outcome.
• The sword in their hand symbolizes readiness—not to do our will, but God’s.
• Victory doesn’t come when we try harder; it comes when we yield deeper.
• So many Christians want victory, but they’re still holding onto their agenda, their preferences, and their timetable.
• You can’t walk in God’s victory while holding onto your own agenda.
• Victory requires surrender.
• Victory requires giving God control of the outcome.
• Victory requires trusting Him enough to say,
• Victory requires my spirit to say, “Lord, I’ll praise You in the waiting—and I’ll follow You in the working.”
• When we surrender to God, God steps into the battle, and the battle shifts!
• Let’s move to verses 6-9
Psalm 149:6–9 NET 2nd ed.
6 May the praises of God be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands,
7 in order to take revenge on the nations, and punish foreigners.
8 The godly bind their enemies’ kings in chains, and their nobles in iron shackles,
9 and execute the judgment to which their enemies have been sentenced. All his loyal followers will be vindicated. Praise the LORD.
MAIN POINT 3 SLIDE
III. Victory Belongs to the Lord
• The final word in every battle is God’s, not the enemy’s.
• These verses talk about executing judgment and carrying out God's justice.
• While the language may seem intense, the point is clear: God is the one who brings ultimate victory.
• It's not our job to fight every battle in our own strength.
• The victory belongs to the Lord, and He invites us to be part of what He is doing
• God wins!
• These verses talk about God executing justice, not human retaliation —but divine authority.
• God is the One who judges.
• God is the One who defends.
• God is the One who settles the score.
• The judgments here show God’s sovereignty over nations and rulers.
Philippians 2:5–11 NET 2nd ed.
5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
6 who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.
8 He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross!
9 As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name, that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow —in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
• AMEN!
• Verse 9 speaks of vindication.
• God will right the wrongs!
• Our role is to remain faithful, worshipful, and surrendered. God will handle the rest.
• We have to stop trying to fight battles that belong to God.
• Trust Him.
• Let Him lead.
• Stand firm in faith, and watch Him bring the victory.
CONCLUSION
CLOSING SLIDE
• Victory is not a destination—it is a lifestyle of praise, surrender, and trust.
• Psalm 149 reminds us that we don't have to wait for everything to be perfect before we praise.
• We praise because we trust.
• We surrender because we believe.
• And we walk in victory because we serve a God who never loses.
