Psalm 144

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:1

Blessed be the Lord my strength - Margin, as in Hebrew, “my rock.” See the notes at Psalms 18:46, where the same expression occurs in the Hebrew.Which teacheth my hands to war - Hebrew, “To the war.” See the notes at Psalms 18:34. The Hebrew is not precisely alike, but the sense is the same.And my fingers to fight - Hebrew, my fingers to the fight. That is, he teaches my fingers so that I can skillfully use them in battle. Probably the immediate reference here is to the use of the bow - placing... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:2

My goodness - Margin, “my mercy.” That is, He shows me mercy or favor. All the favors that I receive come from him.And my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer - See the notes at Psalms 18:2, where the same words occur.My shield - The same word which in Psalms 18:2 is rendered “buckler.” See the notes at that passage.And he in whom I trust - The same idea as in Psalms 18:2. The tense of the verb only is varied.Who subdueth my people under me - See the notes at Psalms 18:47. The language is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:3

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? - The sentiment here is the same as in Psalms 8:4, though the language is not precisely the same. See the notes at that passage. The word rendered “that thou takest knowledge of him,” means here to take notice of; to regard. The idea is, It is amazing that a being so insignificant as man should be an object of interest to God, or that One so great should pay any attention to him and to his affairs. In Psalms 8:4, the language is “that thou... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:4

Man is like to vanity - See the notes at Psalms 39:5-6; Psalms 62:9. The idea here is, that man can be compared only with that which is utterly vain - which is emptiness - which is nothing.His days are as a shadow that passeth away - See the notes at Psalms 102:11 : “My days are like a shadow that declineth.” The idea is essentially the same. It is, that as a shadow has no substance, and that as it moves along constantly as the sun declines, until it vanishes altogether, so man has nothing... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:5

Bow thy heavens, O Lord ... - Come to my aid “as if” the heavens were bent down; come down with all thy majesty and glory. See the notes at Psalms 18:9 : “He bowed down the heavens also, and came down.” What it is there declared that the Lord “had” done, he is here implored to do again.Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke - See the notes at Psalms 104:32 : “He toucheth the hills, and they smoke.” It is there affirmed as a characteristic of God that he “does” this; here the psalmist prays... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:6

Cast forth lightnings, and scatter them - See the notes at Psalms 18:14 : “He sent out his arrows, and scattered them.” The allusion there is to lightning. The psalmist prays that; God would do now again what he had then done. The Hebrew here is, “Lighten lightning;” that is, Send forth lightning. The word is used as a verb nowhere else.Shoot out thine arrows ... - So in Psalms 18:14 : “He shot out lightnings.” The words are the same here as in that psalm, only that they are arranged... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:7

Send thine hand from above - Margin, as in Hebrew, “hands.” See the notes at Psalms 18:16 : “He sent from above.”Rid me, and deliver me out of great waters - Thus Psalms 18:16 : “He took me, he drew me out of many waters.” As God had done it once, there was ground for the prayer that he would do it yet again.From the hand of strange children - Strangers: strangers to thee; strangers to thy people, foreigners. See Psalms 54:3 : “For strangers are risen up against me.” The language would properly... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:8

Those mouth speaketh vanity - Vain things; things not real and true; falsehood; lies. See the notes at Psalms 24:4. The idea is, that what they said had no foundation in truth - no reality. Truth is solid and reliable; falsehood is unreliable and vain.And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood - The meaning here seems to be that even under the solemnities of an oath, when they lifted up their hands to swear, when they solemnly appealed to God, there was no reliance to be placed on what... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:9

I will sing a new song unto thee, O God - There will be occasion in such a deliverance, or manifestation of mercy, for a new expression of praise. On the phrase, “a new song,” see the notes at Psalms 33:3.Upon a psaltery, and an instrument of ten strings - The word “and” should not have been inserted here. The idea is, “Upon a lyre or harp (Nebel) of ten strings, will I sing praise.” See the notes at Isaiah 5:12; and notes at Psalms 33:2. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:10

It is he that giveth salvation unto kings - Margin, “Victory.” The Hebrew word means “salvation,” but it is used here in the sense of deliverance or rescue. Even “kings,” with all their armies, have no hope but in God. They seem to be the most powerful of men, but they are, like all other people, wholly dependent on him for deliverance from danger. David thus recognizes his own entire dependence. Though a king in the divine purpose and in fact, yet he had no power but as derived from God; he... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:10

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