INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 144 A PSALM OF DAVID. This psalm was written by David; not on account of the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, by a spirit of prophecy, as Theodoret; but on his own account, after he was come to the throne, and was king over all Israel; and was delivered from t... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED [BE] THE LORD MY STRENGTH,.... The author and giver of his natural strength of body, and of the fortitude of his mind, and of all the spiritual strength he had, to exercise grace, to bear up under afflictions and trials, to perform duty, and withstand enemies. It may be applied to Christ, th... [ Continue Reading ]
MY GOODNESS,.... Not only good, but goodness itself; the donor of all the blessings of goodness to him; the author of all goodness in him; the provider of all goodness for him, laid up to be used hereafter. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it my mercy, properly enough; that is, the G... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, WHAT [IS] MAN, THAT THOU TAKEST KNOWLEDGE OF HIM?.... Man, that is at most and best but a creature, made of the dust of the earth, is but dust and ashes; yea, a sinful creature, that drinks up iniquity like water: and yet the Lord not only knows him, as he is the omniscient God, but takes noti... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN IS LIKE TO VANITY,.... Is vanity itself, in every age, state, and condition; yea, in his best estate, Psalms 39:5; or, "to the breath" h of the mouth, as Kimchi; which is gone as soon as seen almost: or, to a vapour i; to which the life of man is compared, James 4:14; HIS DAYS [ARE] AS A SHADOW... [ Continue Reading ]
BOW THY HEAVENS, O LORD, AND COME DOWN,.... The heavens, which the Lord has made, and where he dwells; and which are under his influence, and he can cause to incline or bow at his pleasure: and which literally may be said to bow, particularly the airy heavens, when these are filled with clouds heavy... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST FORTH LIGHTNING, AND SCATTER THEM,.... The mountains, the kings and kingdoms of the earth; the enemies of David, and of Christ, and of his people; particularly the Jews, who have been scattered all over the earth by the judgments of God upon them; cast forth like lightning, which is swift, pier... [ Continue Reading ]
SEND THINE HAND FROM ABOVE,.... From the high heavens, as the Targum; that is, exert and display thy power in my deliverance, and in the destruction of my enemies; as follows: RID ME, AND DELIVER ME OUT OF GREAT WATERS; out of great afflictions, which, for quantity and quality, are like many waters... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE MOUTH SPEAKETH VANITY,.... Vain words, lies, flatteries, and deceit, Psalms 12:2; when they speak loftily of themselves, and contemptuously of others; when they deliver out threatenings against some, and make fair promises to others; it is all vanity, and comes to nothing; AND THEIR RIGHT HAN... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SING A NEW SONG UNTO THEE, O GOD,.... The author of his being, the Father of mercies, temporal and spiritual, and therefore to him praise is always due; a new song of praise is to be sung for new mercies; and as these are new every morning, and are renewed day by day, new songs should be sung... [ Continue Reading ]
[IT IS HE] THAT GIVETH SALVATION TO KINGS,.... Which is the reason of singing the new song to the Lord, or this is the matter of it. The Lord is the Preserver of men and beasts, the Saviour of all men, and especially of them that believe; who are in a spiritual sense kings and priests unto God; and... [ Continue Reading ]
RID ME, AND DELIVER ME FROM THE HAND OF STRANGE CHILDREN,.... This is repeated from Psalms 144:7; and is done to show the vehemency and importunity of the request, and the danger David was in, and his sense of it; Psalms 144:7; WHOSE MOUTH SPEAKETH VANITY, AND THEIR RIGHT HAND [IS] A RIGHT HAND OF... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT OUR SONS [MAY BE] AS PLANTS GROWN UP IN THEIR YOUTH,.... The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read, "whose sons [are as] plants", c. as if this and what follows were a description of the families, estates, substance, and outward happiness of wicked men, the enem... [ Continue Reading ]
[THAT] OUR GARNERS [MAY BE] FULL, AFFORDING ALL MANNER OF STORE,.... Or "our corners" s, the corners of their houses, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi; the nooks that were in them might be full of provisions for the supply of the family; or that their barns and granaries might be full of all kind of corn, as... [ Continue Reading ]
[THAT] OUR OXEN [MAY BE] STRONG TO LABOUR,.... To draw carriages, to plough with, and to tread out the corn: or "may be burdened" w; fit to carry burdens; or burdened with flesh, be plump and fat, and in good condition to work; or burdened with young, as some x understand it, and then it must be mea... [ Continue Reading ]
HAPPY [IS THAT] PEOPLE THAT IS IN SUCH A CASE,.... Whose families are in good order and behave well; who enjoy plenty of all good things; whose flocks and herds increase, and who live in peace and prosperity; these are temporal blessings highly valuable, and for which those who have them should be t... [ Continue Reading ]