Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 144
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 144
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 144
"Blessed be Jehovah my rock, Who teacheth my hands to war, [And] my fingers to fight: My lovingkindness, and my fortress, My high tower, and my deliverer; My shield, and he in whom I take refuge; Who subdueth my people under me. Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him? Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away. Bow thy heavens, O Jehovah, and come down: Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them; Send out thine arrows, and discomfit them. Stretch forth thy hand from above; Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hand of aliens; Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood." — Psalms 144:1-8 (ASV)
When individuals become eminent for things for which they have had few advantages, they should be more deeply aware that God has been their Teacher. Happy are those to whom the Lord gives that noblest victory: conquest and dominion over their own spirits.
A prayer for further mercy is appropriately begun with thanksgiving for past mercy. There was a special power of God inclining the people of Israel to be subject to David; this was a type of the bringing of souls into subjection to the Lord Jesus.
Human days have little substance, considering how many thoughts and cares of a never-dying soul are occupied with a poor, dying body. Human life is like a shadow that passes away.
In their highest earthly exaltation, believers will remember how lowly, sinful, and vile they are in themselves; thus they will be preserved from self-importance and presumption. God's time to help his people is when they are sinking and all other sources of help fail.
"I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. Thou art he that giveth salvation unto kings; Who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword. Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace; [When] our garners are full, affording all manner of store, [And] our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; [When] our oxen are well laden; [When there is] no breaking in, and no going forth, And no outcry in our streets: Happy is the people that is in such a case; [Yea], happy is the people whose God is Jehovah. " — Psalms 144:9-15 (ASV)
Fresh favors call for fresh returns of thanks; we must praise God for the mercies we hope for by His promise, as well as those we have received by His providence. To be saved from the hurtful sword, or from wasting sickness, without deliverance from the dominion of sin and the wrath to come, is only a small advantage. The public prosperity David desired for his people is stated.
It adds much to the comfort and happiness of parents in this world to see their children likely to do well: to see them as plants, not as weeds, not as thorns; to see them as plants growing, not withered and blasted; to see them likely to bring forth fruit to God in their day; to see them in their youth growing strong in the Spirit. Plenty is to be desired, so that we may be thankful to God, generous to our friends, and charitable to the poor; otherwise, what profit is it to have our granaries full?
Also, uninterrupted peace. War brings an abundance of harms, whether it is to attack others or to defend ourselves. And to the extent that we do not adhere to the worship and service of God, we cease to be a happy people. The subjects of the Savior, the Son of David, share the blessings of His authority and victories, and are happy because they have the Lord for their God.
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