1441 Blessed be the Lord , my rock , Who trains my hands for war , And my fingers for battle ; 2 My lovingkindness and my fortress , My stronghold and my deliverer , My shield and He in whom I take refuge , Who subdues my people under me. 3 O Lord , what is man , that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man , that You think of him? 4 Man is like a mere breath ; His days are like a passing shadow . 5 Bow Your heavens , O Lord , and come down ; Touch the mountains , that they may smoke . 6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them; Send out Your arrows and confuse them. 7 Stretch forth Your hand from on high ; Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters , Out of the hand of aliens e 8 Whose mouths speak deceit , And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 144:1-8
Commentary on Psalm 144:1-8
(Read Psalm 144:1-8)
When men become eminent for things as to which they have had few advantages, they should be more deeply sensible that God has been their Teacher. Happy those to whom the Lord gives that noblest victory, conquest and dominion over their own spirits. A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for former mercy. There was a special power of God, inclining the people of Israel to be subject to David; it was typical of the bringing souls into subjection to the Lord Jesus. Man's days have little substance, considering how many thoughts and cares of a never-dying soul are employed about a poor dying body. Man's life is as a shadow that passes away. In their highest earthly exaltation, believers will recollect how mean, 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 helps fail.