Man is like to vanity ; or, "to a breath" (comp. Psalms 39:5 ; Psalms 62:9 ). His days are as a shadow that passeth away (see Psalms 102:11 ; Psalms 119:23 ). And yet God has regard to this weak creature of an hour. read more
Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down . The strain changes. From praise of God's loving-kindness and might, the psalmist proceeds to invoke his aid. Taking his metaphors from Psalms 18:9 . "Bow thy heavens, O Lord," he says, "and come down" to earth—appear in thy might, to the discomfiture of thy enemies and the relief of thy faithful ones. Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke . Do as thou wert pleased to do at Sinai, when thou showedst thyself—"Touch the mountains, and let a smoke... read more
God's intervention is his condescension. "Bow thy heavens, and come down." This prayer follows on the acknowledgment of man's frailty and transitoriness. His sphere is altogether below God, who must stoop down to help him. God's intervention involving his condescension may be illustrated in several spheres. To create material things; to remedy the disturbance of things; to provide for the wants of things; to recover self-ruined things;—all involve the Divine condescension. I. TO ... read more
Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thins arrows, and destroy them (comp. Psalms 18:14 ). read more
Send thine hand from above ; literally, reach out thy hands from on high . Rid me; rather, rescue me . And deliver me out of great waters. "Great waters," or "deep waters," is a common metaphor in the Psalms for serious peril. David's peril at this time was from the hand of strange children ; literally, sons of strangers ; i . e . foreign foes. read more
The known God and the unknown foe. "Stretch forth thine hand from above; rescue me out of the hand of strangers." This is but saying, "I do not know those who trouble me, but I do know thee." I. ALL AROUND US IS THE UNKNOWN . 1. There is so little that we can understand. Spite of all the attainments of science, the "known" today bears no comparison at all to the "unknown." The philosopher has but scooped up in his shell a little of the water of the great ocean of truth.... read more
Whose mouth speaketh vanity ; rather, fraud (comp. Psalms 18:45 ). A feigned submission of some foreign enemy is probably glanced at. And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood . The right hand was lifted up in the taking of a solemn oath (see Ezekiel 20:15 ). read more
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God . Another change of strain. The psalmist returns to his original theme of the praise of God (see Psalms 144:1 , Psalms 144:2 ), and promises a "new song," as in Psalms 40:3 . Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee ; rather, upon a psaltery of ten strings (see the Revised Version, and comp. Psalms 33:2 ). Assyrian harps had commonly, in the earlier ages, either eight, nine, or ten strings. read more
It is he that giveth salvation unto kings . There has always been a belief, especially in the East, that "a divinity doth hedge a king." Saul himself was regarded by David as sacrosanct, and to kill him, even at his own request, was a sacrilege ( 2 Samuel 1:14-16 ). Who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. David speaks of himself by name, not only here, but in Psalms 18:50 ; 2 Samuel 7:26 . read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:3-4
The transitoriness of man. "The occasion of the introduction of these sentiments here is not quite clear. It may be the humility of the warrior who ascribes all success to God instead of to human prowess; or it may be a reflection uttered over the corpses of comrades; or, perhaps, a blending of the two." I. THE VANITY OF MAN CREATES SURPRISE AT GOD 'S CARE . "Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him?" This is an exclamation of surprise, which is repeated... read more