The humble crowned with salvation
By Caroline Maas

'Let them praise his name with dancing, make melody to him with tamborine and lyre, for HaShem takes delight in his people, he crowns the humble with salvation'. Psalm 149

Struggle
In Psalm 149 the words “He crowns the humble with salvation,” cought my eye.  When there is salvation this  implicates there is a struggle going on. A struggle such as being weighed down by a heavy burden or being oppressed by an enemy. When you are being weighed down or being oppressed, you want a solution for this problem and you look for a solution: salvation, deliverance.

In Psalm 149 the believers of Israel are offered a Deliverer together with a strategy of deliverance. How striking is HaShem’s passionate desire to see the people of Israel happy, joyful, glad, full of life, cheering and shouting for joy in their Maker, in their King! The believers are faithful to HaShem and come together in the congregation to worship Him by singing, dancing and making music.

Who is humble?
The Hebrew word for humble is ‘anawah’ and means humbleness or modesty. That is a state of the heart that is aware of the faithfulness and love of HaShem, who grants us life and renews us every day, although we do not deserve it. In my opinion this means that one receives life from HaShem and that the life is confirmed by behaving humbly and modestly towards HaShem and your neighbour. A humble person is dignified, kind, mild, vulnerable, sincere, straightforward, receptive and depending on HaShem with reverence for Him. 

Crowned with salvation
Furthermore Psalm 149 gives a number of activities that Israel does during the battle., as an example to the nations. They sing a new song, they rejoice in their Maker and King, they praise HaShem with the round dance. Worship lifts you up and silences HaShem’s enemies. Dejectedness and the oppressor go away when the worshipper calls out to HaShem and expects help from Him. We need help and salvation because we are not able to achieve that in our own strength. The worshipper is put in the right place by HaShem through the praises from the mouth of a humble person  with the faith of a child. Thus Israel reveives salvation and glory. “ And what does HaShem ask from you? Only to do justice, deeds of mercy out of love, and to walk your path humbly with your G’d.” Micah 6, 8

Israel is involved in a vehement battle and has seen and experienced deliverance in the past. See for instance in Exodus 15 how Israel praised their Helper and Deliverer after the passage through the Sea of Suf! Read Psalm 149 and worship with Israel by singing, dancing and making music as a preparation for the future deliverance! Choose to be humble like Yeshua HaMashiach, for He is our greatest example in humility. Read Mat. 11: 29 “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”I wish you a singing, dancing, musical preparation in honour of the coming Deliverer!

Dance to share
In November 2009 I connected the song Yismach Yisrael (Hoej’dot nr. 246) to Psalm 149 with a notation of the advanced dance “Harmonica”. This time I chose a dance for beginners, to allow you to sing and share the joy while dancing in the circle. 

Simple dance time 6/8, choreography from Israel: unknown

Counts Part A  NHH= not holding hands L=left R=right

1-4 NHH Face centre step forward on R and L: arms raised up palms open

5-8 Step backward on R and L: arms raised up palms open

1-8 Step 3 times R to R side and 4th time step to L to L side: arms outwards rotated, palms to palms.