Psalm 144

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:13

That our garners, etc. - Our garners are full. These are not prayers put up by David for such blessings: but assertions, that such blessings were actually in possession. All these expressions should be understood in the present tense. Ten thousands in our streets - בחצתינו bechutsotheynu should be translated in our pens or sheep-walks; for sheep bringing forth in the streets of cities or towns is absurd. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:14

Our oxen may be strong to labor - We have not only an abundance of cattle; but they are of the most strong and vigorous breed. No breaking in - So well ordered is the police of the kingdom, that there are no depredations, no robbers, house-breakers, or marauding parties, in the land; no sudden incursions of neighboring tribes or banditti breaking into fields or houses, carrying away property, and taking with them the people to sell them into captivity: there is no such breaking in, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:15

Happy is that people - " O how happy are the people!" Such were his people; and they had not only all this secular happiness, but they had Jehovah for their God; and in him had a ceaseless fountain of strength, protection, earthly blessings, and eternal mercies! A people in such a case to rebel, must have the curse of God and man. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:1

Verse 1 1.Blessed be Jehovah, my strength (257) It is very evident that David, since he celebrates the favor of God in such high terms, had not only obtained the kingdom, but gained signal victories. When he calls God his strength, he acknowledges that any courage he had was given him from above, not only because he had been made from a country shepherd a mighty warrior, but because the constancy and perseverance he had shown was signally a gift from God. This term answers better than were we... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:2

Verse 2 2.My goodness, etc. This way of using the word in a passive sense, as in the Hebrew, sounds harsh in Latin; just as elsewhere (Psalms 18:50) he calls himself “God’s king,” not in the sense of his having dominion over God, but being made and appointed king by him. Having experienced God’s kindness in so many ways, he calls him “his goodness,” meaning that whatever good he possessed flowed from him. The accumulation of terms, one upon another, which follows, may appear unnecessary, yet it... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:3

Verse 3 3.O Jehovah! what is man, etc. He amplifies the goodness shown by God by instituting a comparison. Having declared how singularly he had been dealt with, he turns his eyes inward, and asks, “Who am I, that God should show me such condescension? “He speaks of man in general; only the circumstance is noticeable that he commends the mercy of God, by considering his lowly and abject condition. In other places he mentions grounds of humiliation of a more personal or private nature, — here he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:5

Verse 5 5.O Jehovah! bow thy heavens. After extolling, as was due, the great goodness of God, he requests him to furnish such help for the preservation of the kingdom as was necessary in the present exigency. As formerly we saw that he had gloried in God with a heroical courage, so here he makes use of the same lofty terms in his prayers, That he would bow the heavens — that he would make the mountains to smoke — disturb the air with thunderings — and shoot forth arrows; forms of speech by... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:7

Verse 7 7.Send thy hand, etc. In one word we are now made to see what was meant by the figures formerly used — that in the absence of all earthly help, God would put forth his hand from above, the greatness of the exigency making extraordinary help necessary. Accordingly he compares his enemies to great and deep waters. He calls them strangers, not in respect of generic origin, but character and disposition. It were a mistake to refer the term to the uncircumcision, for David rather animadverts... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:9

Verse 9 9.O God! I will sing a new song to thee. He again sets himself, with self-possession, to the exercise of praising God, not doubting but he would continue those mercies which he had once bestowed. I have taken notice in another place that by a new song is meant one of a singular or uncommon kind; and we are left from this to infer that David’s expectations stretched beyond the conclusions of man’s judgment; for, with a view to the greatness of the help to be extended, he promises a song... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:12

Verse 12 12.Because our sons, etc. These three concluding verses some consider as being a wish or a prayer. (271) Others think that David congratulates himself, and all the people, that through the divine blessing every species of mercy was showered down prosperously upon them. I have no doubt that David commemorates, by way of thanksgiving, the liberality which God had shown to his people. But it consists very well with this, to suppose that he prays at the same time for the continuance or... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:12

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