Psalm 149 - When I Need to Rest in the Song of Heaven

Summer in the Psalms

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We all have quirks and one of mine is waking up singing. I don't play music (long gone are the days of piano and viola lessons), I don't sing in the church choir, but I do nine times out of ten, wake up singing. Not audibly, at least at first. Before I open my eyes, a song is playing in my heart and its lyrics and melody capturing my thoughts. Sometimes it's a song I heard the day before and sometimes it's not.

I've only recently realized this is a quirk and not how everyone wakes up.

Today, a good friend of mine, Rachel Britton, is sharing her reflection of Psalm 149 with us and reminding us of the power of praise, but even more beautifully and profoundly, to recognize this is an invitation for God is already singing over us. When we choose to praise and sing worship, we are joining the Choir Master's song. And not just that, but the song of "the Mighty Warrior who saves."

Rachel Britton is a British-born award-winning author and speaker. Her passion is to help others become comfortable and confident in their conversation with God. Her latest book Pray Naturally: Finding Your Spiritual Confidence as a Woman Loved by God released with Our Daily Bread Publishing. She is the creator of the Amazon Alexa skill: “Alexa, say a prayer,” which receives 1,500 requests per day. Rachel is married with three adult children spread over too many time zones. Connect with Rachel on her blog rachelbritton.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

Have you ever had a worship song stuck in your head? You keep singing a couple of lines, even when you go to bed. In the middle of the night you are still singing the song. I had that happen to me recently.

The phrase “I will make room for you, to do whatever you want to” from the song Make Room kept coming back while I was washing dishes, walking down the street, even as I went to sleep. At first, I thought it was just catchy, but I realized later those words steadied my heart when the day felt uncertain. I could make room for God and lay it all before him.

The beginning of Psalm 149 reminds me of this kind of experience. It says,

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people... Praise his name with dancing and make music. - Psalm 149:1, 3

It’s like being at church with people around us lifting up their voices. Then the Psalm continues:

Let his faithful people…sing for joy on their beds. - Psalm 149:5

They are encouraged to let their praises linger, even as they rest.

God is worthy of our praise. But, this Psalm gives an additional reason to worship, Verse four says:

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

God delights in our praises but let’s not miss that He delights in us. Let your mind and heart soak up that thought—you are a pleasure to God. Often, we think we are not worthy of God’s acceptance. But you have great worth in God’s eyes. Zephaniah 3:17 says God rejoices “over you with singing.” Isn’t that beautiful? Imagine him holding you in his arms and enjoying your presence, his child.

Then, in the middle of praise, the Psalm takes an unexpected turn. After such a tender picture of God’s delight, the language suddenly shifts to fighting, vengeance and punishment. Sometimes our own lives feel like that too—moments of worship are interrupted by intense struggle. It’s in those seasons we discover “he crowns the humble with victory.” Being humble isn’t weakness; it’s trusting God to win the battle for us.

When I feel powerless to change my situation, I have a choice. I can either try to fix it myself or surrender to God and admit I don’t have what it takes. This Psalm reminds me I don’t need to fight for what’s right—God does it for me.

That’s what it means to rely on God’s strength, rather than our own.

In the battles of the Old Testament, those who won only did so when they were fully committed to God, not because of their military strength. Think of Joshua and the people marching around Jericho. The walls didn’t fall through strategy but through obedience and humility before God.

The God who delights in you is also your Mighty Warrior. “He is the Mighty Warrior who saves” says Zephaniah 3:17.

He saves you from the power of death when you humbly trust in Jesus as your Savior.

He is the One who delivers and protects your life until the day that he finally puts all things right, and we know complete victory over evil.

If you feel powerless, hold onto God and his strength. Praise him for what he’s done and what he will do. Go to bed knowing he delights in you, sings over you, and protects you.

And maybe, like that song that wouldn’t leave my mind, his praise will still linger on your lips as you drift off to sleep. The One who delights in you is watching over you tonight.

Now, It's Your Turn!

I challenge you to take a moment to pray, then read or listen to Psalm 149 today. Think about what stands out to you. Consider writing down a statement of faith. It may help to think of this as an I-statement. Maybe yours is similar to Rachel's:

The One who delights in me is watching over me tonight.

Then, jot down a question to think about today. Maybe yours is similar to Rachel's:

Am I relying on God's strength or my own? When I feel powerless to change my situation, I have a choice. I can either try to fix it myself or surrender to God and admit I don’t have what it takes. This Psalm reminds me I don’t need to fight for what’s right—God does it for me.

May this reflection lead our hearts to gratitude and praise today and may we stand in victory against the tactics and schemes of the enemy.

And praise God for refreshment as we are intentional to spend a summer in the Psalms together, for if we want His truth to ever be on our lips, it must first be planted in our hearts.

Our strength grows as we rely on strength from above. Our joy grows as we see God transforming us from the inside out. Our peace grows as we spend time in God's presence, and we find rest when we intentionally seek the Lord first in our lives, for the Lord is ever our portion.

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.