Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 144:1-8

Here, I. David acknowledges his dependence upon God and his obligations to him, Ps. 144:1, 2. A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for former mercy; and when we are waiting upon God to bless us we should stir up ourselves to bless him. He gives to God the glory of two things:? 1. What he was to him: Blessed be the Lord my rock (Ps. 144:1), my goodness, my fortress, Ps. 144:2. He has in the covenant engaged himself to be so, and encouraged us, accordingly, to depend... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:1

Blessed be the Lord my strength ,.... The author and giver of his natural strength of body, and of the fortitude of his mind, and of all the spiritual strength he had, to exercise grace, to bear up under afflictions and trials, to perform duty, and withstand enemies. It may be applied to Christ, the antitype of David, the man of God's right hand, he has made strong for himself. It may be rendered, "my rock" F3 צורי "rupes mea", Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:1

Teacheth my hands to war - To use sword, battle-axe, or spear. And my fingers to fight - To use the bow and arrows, and the sling. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:1

Blessed be the Lord my strength ; or, "my rock" (comp. Psalms 18:2 , Psalms 18:46 ; Psalms 31:3 ; Psalms 62:7 , etc.). Which teacheth my hands to war, dud my fingers to fight (comp. Psalms 18:34 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:1-2

War-figures of God's relations. "The psalmist recounts glorious victories in the past; complains that the nation is now beset by strange, i . e . barbarous, enemies, so false and treacherous that no covenant can be kept with them; prays for deliverance from them by an interposition great and glorious as had been vouchsafed of old; and anticipates the return of a golden age of peace and plenty" (Perowne). If it ever has been right , the manifest duty of the hour, for a man to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:1-15

National piety and prosperity. The latter part of this psalm seems hardly to belong to the former; but looking at it in the light of the last verses, we regard it as an utterance which has in view, from first to last, the well-being of the nation. Thus considered, we have— I. THE ONE TRUE SOURCE OF NATIONAL SECURITY . ( Psalms 144:1 , Psalms 144:2 , Psalms 144:10 .) The writer is presumably David. He takes the position of a leader, of a warrior-king. And though we ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:1-15

What the goodness of God does for me and in me. This psalm is a string of quotations, mostly from Psalms 18:1-50 ; as any reference Bible will show; and as that psalm is almost undisputedly one of David's composition, therefore this, which owes so much to it, may be called his likewise. It is also one of the war-psalms, breathing the fierce and sometimes the truculent spirit, the presence of which in these psalms has so often perplexed the Christian reader. In order to understand such... read more

Albert Barnes

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 144:1-2

Psalms 144:1-2. Blessed be the Lord my strength On whom I rely, and from whom I have power to withstand and subdue my enemies, and to perform the duties of my place and station; who teacheth my hands to war, &c. Who gives me that skill in military affairs, and that dexterity in the management of my weapons, which is much above my education and former course of life; my goodness Or, my mercy, or the God of my mercy, as God is called, Psalms 59:10; Psalms 59:17. He who is... read more

Group of Brands