The Book of Psalms
Psalm 144
Psalm CXLIV · Vol. II, p. 1077
1 David blesseth God for his mercy both to him and to man. 5 He prayeth that God would powerfully deliver him from his enemies. 9 He promiseth to praise God. 11 He prayeth for the happy state of the kingdom under God's favour.
A psalm of David.1
1 Blessed be the LORD my strength,2 whicha teacheth my hands to war,3 and my fingers to fight.
B.C. cir. 1048.
1 This psalm is mainly a compilation made, probably by the author himself, from portions of other psalms, and arranged in one complete form for some special purpose. The principal portions of it are found in Ps. 18. 8; xxxiii. civ. The general burden is a prayer to Jehovah for help and deliverance in prospect of some impending danger. It is the song of a warrior; but of one who feels that his courage, his skill, and his physical strength must be sustained by God.—P.
2 Heb. my rock, Is.45.24. De.32.30,31. Ps.18.2,31.
a 2 Sa.22.35. Ps.18.34.
3 Heb. to the war, &c.
2 Myb goodness,4 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,c what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
6 Casth forth lightning, and scatter them:5 shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.6
h Ps.18.13,14;77.17,18. Jos.10.10,11. 2 Sa.22.14,15.
5 Scatter them—that is, the 'strange children,' who, being of 'their father the devil' (Jn. 8. 44), will rebelliously continue to war against Jehovah and his Christ, Ps. 2. 1, &c.—C.
6 Instances of the direct interference of Jehovah on behalf of his people in battle occurred in the celebrated victories of Joshua at Gibeon and of Barak on the plain of Jezreel. In reference to the latter the poetess wrote:—'They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera,' Ju. 5. 20.—P.
7 Sendi thine hand7 from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of jstrange children;
9 Il 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 Itn is he that giveth salvation8 unto kings; who delivereth David9 his servant from the hurtful sword.
11 Rido me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
o ver.7,8. 2 Sa.8.6.
12 That our sons may be pas plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be asq corner-stones, polished1 after the similitude of a palace;2
p Ps.128.3. Is.44.3,4. De.28.4. Ep.4.12,13.
q Pr.31.10-27. Job 42.15. 1 Ti.2.9,10. 1 Pe.3.3,4. Tit.2.5.
1 Heb. cut.
2 See note * below.
* Or, 'Our daughters as pillars, hewn (and sculptured) like those of a palace.' The idea embodied in the figure is that the daughters of Israel might have grace, symmetry, and beauty.—P.
13 Thatr our garners may be full, affording all manner of store;3 that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets;
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour;4 that there be no sbreaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
4 Heb. able to bear burdens, or loaden with flesh.
s Le.26.17,33. De.28.25.
Notes
Ver. 1. Teacheth my hands to war—'a good warfare,' 1 Ti. 1. 18, grasping and wielding 'the sword of the Spirit,' Ep. 6. 17; and my fingers to 'fight the good fight of faith,' 1 Ti. 6. 12, directing the arrows of truth to the hearts of the King's enemies, Ps. 45. 5. C.
Ver. 3. On comparing this verse with Ps. 8. 4 and He. 2. 6-9, it will appear that the speaker is Messiah, made a little—rather, for a little—lower than the angels; that for his obedience unto death he might be crowned with glory and honour. C.
Ver. 5. The Lord literally descended upon Mount Sinai, taking upon earth a local habitation, that he might manifest his visible glory, Ex. 19. 18. Here he is represented as causing the heavens to bow to the earth, not in a mere figure, but in a reality—when he shall be 'revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,' 2 Th. 1. 8. C.
Ver. 11. A right hand of falsehood. False to every engagement, however solemnly ratified; obliterating their baptism by infidelity, and, in the Lord's supper, eating and drinking to their own condemnation. C.
Reflections.—Behold, as in a figure, Jesus Christ, the child of heaven, advanced by his Father to his right hand, and invested with all power in heaven and in earth! There he rejoices in his God, and in his glorious victories of salvation, and makes intercession for the conquest and ruin of all evil, and for the abundant happiness of his people.—Great and blessed is the believer's hope in the divine relations and perfections; and infinite is the condescension and kindness of God towards man: so mean, so unsubstantial, so transitory! Certainly then there shall come a day in which God will redeem his people out of all their deep waters of trouble, and justly reward his and their enemies. O what a mercy is it to receive, out of the hand of a reconciled God, children endowed with every corporeal and mental accomplishment, garners replenished with useful stores, thriving flocks and herds, and a safe and quiet commonwealth! Yet it is not in earthly enjoyments, but in God himself, as our God and our All in All, that solid and everlasting happiness consists.