Psalms 144:1-15 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

CXLIV. Ascribed by LXX and also by T. to David against Goliath, but without any shadow of reason.

Psalms 144:1-11 is really a mosaic chiefly taken from Psalms 18, but also from Psalms 8, 33, 104. It is a song of anticipated triumph. The Psalmist is in conflict with foreign enemies (strangers (Psalms 144:7) can only mean foreigners). God teaches his fingers to fight, for it is the fingers which grasp the bow and subdue peoples (not my people) under him. He prays that a display in storm and lightning may discomfit his foes. They can be bound by no treaty, for the right hand (Psalms 144:8), which is raised in taking an oath, is false and treacherous. But the Psalmist's triumph is secure. David (Psalms 144:10) is an erroneous gloss on his servant.

Psalms 144:12-15 is a Ps., or more probably the fragment of a Ps., describing the blessed lot of Yahweh's people. Observe that the blessing is wholly material. When (Psalms 144:12) has in Heb. no intelligible meaning, and may have belonged to the original continuation of Psalms 144:1-11. The daughters of the Jews in Psalms 144:12 are compared, according to one interpretation with corner pillars carved after the fashion of a palace. But there is no authority for the rendering pillars, and it is unlikely that the Psalmist knew anything of Caryatides.

Related Commentaries of Psalms 144:1

Psalms 144:1-15

1 Blessed be the LORD my strength,a which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

2 My goodness,b and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

10 It is he that giveth salvationc unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polishedd after the similitude of a palace:

13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.