1 <A Psalm. Of David.> Praise be to the God of my strength, teaching my hands the use of the sword, and my fingers the art of fighting:
2 He is my strength, and my Rock; my high tower, and my saviour; my keeper and my hope: he gives me authority over my people.
3 Lord, what is man, that you keep him in mind? or the son of man that you take him into account?
4 Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.
5 Come down, O Lord, from your heavens: at your touch let the mountains give out smoke.
6 With your storm-flames send them in flight: send out your arrows for their destruction.
7 Put out your hand from on high; make me free, take me safely out of the great waters, and out of the hands of strange men;
8 In whose mouths are false words, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit.
9 I will make a new song to you, O God; I will make melody to you on an instrument of ten cords.
10 It is God who gives salvation to kings; and who kept his servant David from the wounding sword.
11 Make me free, and take me out of the hands of strange men, in whose mouths are false words, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit.
12 Our sons are like tall young plants; and our daughters like the shining stones of a king's house;
13 Our store-houses are full of all good things; and our sheep give birth to thousands and ten thousands in our fields.
14 Our oxen are well weighted down; our cows give birth safely; there is no going out, and there is no cry of sorrow in our open places.
15 Happy is the nation whose ways are so ordered: yes, happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 144
Commentary on Psalms 144 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 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, 2 Sa. 5:17. In this psalm,
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.
Psa 144:1-8
Here,
Psa 144:9-15
The method is the same in this latter part of the psalm as in the former; David first gives glory to God and then begs mercy from him.