Psalm 149:6 is the only verse in the Bible that contains a reference to “high” praise. I believe this has at least three meanings.
In many of our churches, the level of praise at 11 a.m. on Sundays is not very high at all; it is skidding somewhere around floor level. But most of us have experienced times when praise began to ascend, and our hearts were lifted in thanksgiving and praise to God; and before long the praise had ascended to a high level of intensity. There are levels of praise, and “high” praise is first of all a reference to an intense level of praise.
Second, we need to be reminded that we are not the only ones who are offering up praise and worship unto the Lord. Even now, around the throne in the heavenlies, cherubim and seraphim and angels and creatures and the saints of all ages are lifting their voices to sing the holiness of our God. Thus “high praise” is a reference to the praise that is occurring high above us right now, the praise that is ascending to the Father from before the throne. I believe it is possible for us, here be- low, to participate now in that “high praise.” By listening with our spirits, we can discern the type of song being sung around the throne. As “Holy, holy, holy” resounds in the heavenlies, the earthly choir can join in and sing, “Holy, holy, holy.” When the angels are singing, “Praise befits his majesty,” the saints here can also sing, “Praise befits his majesty!” We can have a two-part antiphonal choir: the heavenly choir sings praises unto the Lamb, and the earthly choir responds with songs of praise. May we have that “high praise” today, “in earth as it is in heaven”!
Finally—and this is our focus—there is a type or level of praise that ascends into the heavenlies and wars on our behalf. We all recognize that spiritual forces of wickedness inhabit the heavenlies. Daniel learned this in a very specific way on one occasion while praying. A “man” appeared to him in a vision; according to the description of this “man,” he was possibly the Lord himself, although the text does not say so specifically. When Daniel had first prayed, this man was sent to Daniel with the answer to his prayer but was detained for twenty-one days by the evil prince of the Persian kingdom. Michael, “one of the chief princes” in heaven, was then sent
to help this man in his battle against the prince of Persia, and because of their united fight, this man was able to break through the spiritual barrier and visit Daniel with the answer (see Daniel 10).
The Scriptures make it clear that evil powers hover over nations, cities, households, and even individuals. Various forms of spiritual warfare can be waged against these evil forces. In the example of Daniel, he prayed through to victory. But the Lord has given us another precious tool for engaging in warfare: high praise!
Psalm 149 links this “high praise” with the “two-edged sword,” or the word of God. There is a beautiful relationship between the singing of God’s praise and the preaching of the word. Coupling the praises of God with a dynamic and fresh word from God produces an unbeatable combination! Churches that are moving in these two dimensions of ministry are flour- ishing and growing, and they will not be stopped.
This psalm also speaks of executing “vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people.” A New Testament understanding of this passage is in order, because God does not usually respond to our praise by pouring out his wrath and judgment on the heathen. In a New Testament sense, God is saying, “There is an inheritance for the church in the nations, but it is not yet claimed. Go forth and bind the satanic powers that blind the hearts of men, and reclaim for the kingdom that portion of the body of Christ that has yet to be brought in.” You see, the main thrust of warfare through praise is evangelistic. God’s heart beats for the lost, and he wants us to become part of the action.
Praise operated as a tool for evangelism in the New Testa- ment. On the day of Pentecost, the God-fearing Jews from many nations who were in Jerusalem heard the Christians speaking in unknown tongues—“declaring the wonders of God”—in essence, giving praise to God in other tongues. As a result of hearing this “high praise,” followed by Peter’s sermon
(“two-edged sword”), about three thousand people came to Christ that day! As is typical of praise, there were two types of responses on that occasion: “Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’ Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine’” (Acts 2:12-13). God has not called us to worry about man’s responses. We are called to sing his high praises and declare his word; the harvest belongs to him.
God has given us the tools and the opportunity to become involved, for God releases his conviction and repentance as we praise. The church has an unclaimed inheritance in the nations! We must lift high the banner of praise and by faith witness the release of God’s word and power in all the earth, until the body of Christ is full and complete!
“Every stroke the LORD lays on them with his punishing rod will be to the music of tambourines and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm” (Isaiah 30:32). This is an activity in which instrumentalists are to participate! Get out the tambourine! Get out the guitar! Let the pianist sit down, and let the drummer take his place. It is time to go to war! It is time to lead God’s people in high praise, to declare that he is victorious in all the earth—and this Scripture shows us that as we do, God tightens his fist and gives the enemy a left hook, and then a big right cross to the jaw!
God wants to punish the kingdom of darkness by rescuing from Satan’s hand many souls who are now doomed to destruc- tion. Every time a soul is snatched from darkness and brought into God’s kingdom, a death blow is administered to sin, the purposes of Satan are frustrated, another carnal nature is put to death, and a newly born saint emerges! If interceding for that unsaved husband for many years has brought weariness of the battle, stop fighting and start praising! Praising and re- joicing and confessing God’s sovereignty release God to fight, and what was not accomplished in years may happen in just a matter of months or weeks!
Isaiah declared, “On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all na- tions” (Isaiah 25:7). Which mountain was this? It was Mount Zion! Mount Zion was famous as a place of praise. Moses’ tabernacle was known as a place of sacrifices, but David’s tab- ernacle (Mount Zion) was known as a place of singing, music, and praise. On that mountain of praise, the Lord will destroy the blanket of darkness that covers cities and families. How many of us have tried to witness to someone, only to be met with a completely blank face? That person could not understand a thing being said because Satan has blinded people’s minds so that they cannot receive the truth of God’s word, even if they might want to. Praise breaks through that barrier!
Some young people who have participated in Youth With A Mission (a worldwide evangelistic outreach) told me that they have experienced times when their personal evangelism seemed to be hitting a cement wall. At such times they would get out the guitars and start singing the praise of God wher- ever they were. The spiritual walls would begin to crumble, and they would have a breakthrough at that locality! We have a wonderful weapon in praise because God has ordained that through his praising church (Mount Zion) he is going to tear through the spiritual barriers that cover the nations!
“‘So the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights’” (Isaiah 31:4). The “heights of Zion” are the high praises of God’s people! When our hearts are lifted up in high praise to the Lord, our spirits ascend the heights of Zion. As we raise our voices in that level of high praise, God will respond in might and power. “In Zion his battle-quarters are set up” (Psalm 76:2, NEB).
“Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD repaying his enemies all they deserve” (Isaiah 66:6). What uproar is coming from the city of God? What noise is in God’s temple? It is praise—high praise and worship. That sound of praise is the sound of the Lord bringing retribution upon his enemies!