1441 By David. Blessed 'is' Jehovah my rock, who is teaching My hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 My kind one, and my bulwark, My tower, and my deliverer, My shield, and in whom I have trusted, Who is subduing my people under me! 3 Jehovah, what 'is' man that Thou knowest him? Son of man, that Thou esteemest him? 4 Man to vanity hath been like, His days 'are' as a shadow passing by. 5 Jehovah, incline Thy heavens and come down, Strike against mountains, and they smoke. 6 Send forth lightning, and scatter them, Send forth Thine arrows, and trouble them, 7 Send forth Thy hand from on high, Free me, and deliver me from many waters, From the hand of sons of a stranger, 8 Because their mouth hath spoken vanity, And their 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.