Psalm 144
1Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who trains my hands to war, and my fingers to battle— 2my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. 3Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him? 4Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away. 5Part your heavens, Yahweh, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke. 6Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them. 7Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners, 8whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you. 10You are he who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword. 11Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 12Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace. 13Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep produce thousands and ten thousands in our fields. 14Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets. 15Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.
Introduction
Psalms 144
The four preceding psalms seem to have been penned by David before his accession to the crown, when he was persecuted by Saul; this seems to have been penned afterwards, when he was still in trouble (for there is no condition in this world privileged with an exemption from trouble), the neighbouring nations molesting him and giving him disturbance, especially the Philistines, Sa2 5:17. In this psalm, I. He acknowledges, with triumph and thankfulness, the great goodness of God to him in advancing him to the government (Psa 144:1-4). II. He prays to God to help him against the enemies who threatened him (Psa 144:5-8 and again Psa 144:11). III. He rejoices in the assurance of victory over them (Psa 144:9, Psa 144:10). IV. He prays for the prosperity of his own kingdom, and pleases himself with the hopes of it (Psa 144:12-15). In singing this psalm we may give God the glory of our spiritual privileges and advancements, and fetch in help from him against our spiritual enemies; we may pray for the prosperity of our souls, of our families, and of our land; and, in the opinion of some of the Jewish writers, we may refer the psalm to the Messiah and his kingdom.
A psalm of David.
Cross-references: 2Sam 5:17 · Ps 144:1 · Ps 144:5 · Ps 144:11 · Ps 144:9 · Ps 144:10 · Ps 144:12