Psalms 144 - Introduction

i. The Psalmist praises Jehovah as the Giver of victory (Psalms 144:1-2), and marvels that He Who is so great should condescend to care for man who is so insignificant and transitory (Psalms 144:3-4). He prays that Jehovah will appear and interpose on his behalf, for he is hard pressed by faithless and treacherous foreigners (Psalms 144:5-8).

ii. A vow of thanksgiving for the victory which he is confident will be granted, and a repeated prayer for deliverance (Psalms 144:9-11).

iii. A description of the peace and prosperity of Jehovah's people (Psalms 144:12-15).

This Psalm is a compilation from Psalms 18:8; Psalms 18:39, 104, Psalms 18:33, and apparently from some poem which has not been preserved. Psalms 144:12 might no doubt have been written by the compiler himself; but the general character of the Psalm, and the looseness of the connexion with the preceding verses make it tolerably certain that these verses also were borrowed.

The Psalm bears the name of David, partly perhaps from its similarity to Psalms 18, and partly from the mention of David in Psalms 144:10. The LXX adds against Goliathto the title: comp. the Targum of Psalms 144:10, "from the evil sword of Goliath." But the compilatory character of the Psalm stamps it as a secondary production; and certain features in the language (especially in Psalms 144:12) point to a late date. In Psalms 144:1 some leader of the people speaks as its representative; in Psalms 144:12 he associates his fellow-citizens with himself, and uses the first person plural.