Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 144

Blessed be the Lord my strength — Margin, as in Hebrew, “my rock.” See the notes at (Psalms 18:46), where the same expression occurs in the Hebrew.

Which teaches my hands to war — Hebrew, “To the war.” See the notes at (Psalms 18:34). The Hebrew is not precisely alike, but the sense is the same.

And my fingers to fight — Hebrew, my fingers to the fight. That is, He teaches my fingers so that I can skillfully use them in battle. Probably the immediate reference here is to the use of the bow — placing the arrow, and drawing the string.

My goodness - Margin, “my mercy.” That is, He shows me mercy or favor. All the favors that I receive come from Him.

And my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer - See the notes at (Psalms 18:2), where the same words occur.

My shield - The same word which in (Psalms 18:2) is rendered “buckler.” See the notes at that passage.

And he in whom I trust - The same idea as in (Psalms 18:2). The tense of the verb only is varied.

Who subdueth my people under me - See the notes at (Psalms 18:47). The language is slightly different, but the idea is the same. It is to be remarked that David here refers to his people - who subdueth my people, meaning that those over whom God had placed him had been made submissive by the divine power.

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? - The sentiment here is the same as in Psalm 8:4, though the language is not precisely the same. See the notes at that passage. The word rendered “that thou takest knowledge of him,” means here to take notice of; to regard. The idea is, it is amazing that a being so insignificant as man should be an object of interest to God, or that One so great should pay any attention to him and to his affairs. In Psalm 8:4, the language is “that thou art mindful of him,” that is, that you do remember him - that you do not altogether pass him over.

In Psalm 8:1-9, the remark is made in view of the heavens as being so exalted in comparison with man. The wonder is that, in view of worlds so vast occupying the divine attention and needing the divine care, “man,” so insignificant, does not pass out of his view altogether. Here, the remark seems to be made in illustration of the idea that there is no strength in man; that he has no power to accomplish anything by himself; that he is entirely dependent on God.

Or the son of man - Man - any of the race. See the notes at Psalm 8:4.

That thou makest account of him! -Psalms 8:4, “that thou visitest him.” See the notes at that passage. The word here means “that you should “think” of him,” that he should ever come into your thought at all.

Man is like to vanity — See the notes at Psalms 39:5-6; Psalms 62:9. The idea here is that man can be compared only with that which is utterly vain—which is emptiness, which is nothing.

His days are as a shadow that passeth away — See the notes at Psalms 102:11: My days are like a shadow that declineth. The idea is essentially the same. It is that, as a shadow has no substance and as it moves along constantly as the sun declines until it vanishes altogether, so man has nothing substantial or permanent, and so he is constantly moving off and will soon wholly disappear.

Bow your heavens, O Lord ... - Come to my aid “as if” the heavens were bent down; come down with all your majesty and glory. See the notes at (Psalms 18:9): He bowed down the heavens also, and came down. What is declared there that the Lord “had” done, he is here implored to do again.

Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke - See the notes at (Psalms 104:32): He toucheth the hills, and they smoke. It is affirmed there as a characteristic of God that he “does” this; here the psalmist prays that, as this belonged to God, or was in his power, he “would” do it on his behalf. The prayer is that God would come to his relief “as if” in smoke and tempest—in the fury of the storm.