Psalms144
King James Version · Public Domain
1 Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
3 Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
5 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.
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Psalms 144Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 144. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David acknowledges the great goodness of God, and prays for help. (1–8). He prays for the prosperity of his kingdom. (9–15).
vv1-8
When men become eminent for things as to which they have had few advantages, they should be more deeply sensible that God has been their Teacher. Happy those to whom the Lord gives that noblest victory, conquest and dominion over their own spirits. A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for former mercy. There was a special power of God, inclining the people of Israel to be subject to David; it was typical of the bringing souls into subjection to the Lord Jesus. Man's days have little substance, considering how many thoughts and cares of a never-dying soul are employed about a poor dying body. Man's life is as a shadow that passes away. In their highest earthly exaltation, believers will recollect how mean, sinful, and vile they are in themselves; thus they will be preserved from self-importance and presumption. God's time to help his people is, when they are sinking, and all other helps fail.
vv9-15
Fresh favours call for fresh returns of thanks; we must praise God for the mercies we hope for by his promise, as well as those we have received by his providence. To be saved from the hurtful sword, or from wasting sickness, without deliverance from the dominion of sin and the wrath to come, is but a small advantage. The public prosperity David desired for his people, is stated. It adds much to the comfort and happiness of parents in this world, to see their children likely to do well. To see them as plants, not as weeds, not as thorns; to see them as plants growing, not withered and blasted; to see them likely to bring forth fruit unto God in their day; to see them in their youth growing strong in the Spirit. Plenty is to be desired, that we may be thankful to God, generous to our friends, and charitable to the poor; otherwise, what profit is it to have our garners full? Also, uninterrupted peace. War brings abundance of mischiefs, whether it be to attack others or to defend ourselves. And in proportion as we do not adhere to the worship and service of God, we cease to be a happy people. The subjects of the Saviour, the Son of David, share the blessings of his authority and victories, and are happy because they have the Lord for their God.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
בָרַךְ: to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)
צוּר: properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous)
לָמַד: properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive)
יָד: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
קְרָב: hostile encounter
אֶצְבַּע: something to sieze with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe
מִלְחָמָה: a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)
חֵסֵד: kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
מָצוּד: a net, or (abstractly) capture; also a fastness
Cross References
Psalms 144Direct verbal parallel to the exclamation 'what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him!'
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel Davidic confession that God teaches his hands to war and bend a bow of steel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Identical wisdom theme: man is altogether vanity and his life is but a fleeting shadow.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Identical military and fortress metaphors used by David to describe God as his deliverer.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The mountain smoking is a direct allusion to God's standard-setting descent upon Mount Sinai.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical metaphor of God reaching from above to draw David out of great waters.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel acknowledgment of God giving great deliverance and mercy to His king, David.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallel question regarding man's insignificance and why God should set His heart upon him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Echoes the specific metaphor of days declining like a shadow that passeth away.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel phrasing of God bowing the heavens and coming down to rescue His anointed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical wording of shooting out arrows and casting forth lightnings to scatter foes.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the description of hypocritical and deceitful enemies who speak vanity and falsehood.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbal link to singing a new song with an instrument of ten strings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical beatitude proclaiming: 'Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.'
Supported by Matthew Henry