Psalm 144:1-15

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 144:9-15

The method is the same in this latter part of the psalm as in the former; David first gives glory to God and then begs mercy from him. I. He praises God for the experiences he had had of his goodness to him and the encouragements he had to expect further mercy from him, Ps. 144:9, 10. In the midst of his complaints concerning the power and treachery of his enemies, here is a holy exultation in his God: I will sing a new song to thee, O God! a song of praise for new mercies, for those... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:2

My goodness ,.... Not only good, but goodness itself; the donor of all the blessings of goodness to him; the author of all goodness in him; the provider of all goodness for him, laid up to be used hereafter. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it my mercy, properly enough; that is, the God of "my mercy", as in Psalm 59:10 ; who is all mercy, full of mercy, rich and plenteous in it; which is abundant, and from everlasting to everlasting. Or, "my grace" F4 חסדי "gratia... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:3

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him ?.... Man, that is at most and best but a creature, made of the dust of the earth, is but dust and ashes; yea, a sinful creature, that drinks up iniquity like water: and yet the Lord not only knows him, as he is the omniscient God, but takes notice of him in a way of providence, and in a way of grace. His chosen people are no other nor better than others, of the same original, and of the same character; and yet he owns and acknowledges... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:4

Man is like to vanity ,.... Is vanity itself, in every age, state, and condition; yea, in his best estate, Psalm 39:5 ; or, "to the breath" F8 להבל "halitui", Muis; so Kimchi. of the mouth, as Kimchi; which is gone as soon as seen almost: or, to a vapour F9 "Vapori", Cocceius; so the Syriac and Arabic versions. ; to which the life of man is compared, James 4:14 ; his days are as a shadow that passeth away ; as the former denotes the frailty and mortality of man, this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:5

Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down ,.... The heavens, which the Lord has made, and where he dwells; and which are under his influence, and he can cause to incline or bow at his pleasure: and which literally may be said to bow, particularly the airy heavens, when these are filled with clouds heavy with rain, and hang low, ready to fall upon the earth, and being rent, let down showers on it: and mystically may design storms of wrath gathering over the heads of ungodly men, and revealed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:6

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them ,.... The mountains, the kings and kingdoms of the earth; the enemies of David, and of Christ, and of his people; particularly the Jews, who have been scattered all over the earth by the judgments of God upon them; cast forth like lightning, which is swift, piercing, penetrating, and destructive; shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them ; or, "trouble them" F11 ותהמם "ac turba eos", Tigurine version; "et conturba eos", Cocceius, Michaelis. ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:7

Send thine hand from above ,.... From the high heavens, as the Targum; that is, exert and display thy power in my deliverance, and in the destruction of my enemies; as follows: rid me, and deliver me out of great waters ; out of great afflictions, which, for quantity and quality, are like many waters, overflowing and overwhelming; see Isaiah 43:2 ; or out of the hands of enemies, many, mighty, and strong, whom he compares to waters; as Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech observe: and so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:8

Whose mouth speaketh vanity ,.... Vain words, lies, flatteries, and deceit, Psalm 12:2 ; when they speak loftily of themselves, and contemptuously of others; when they deliver out threatenings against some, and make fair promises to others; it is all vanity, and comes to nothing; and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood ; their strength and power to perform what they boast of, threaten, or promise, is fallacious, is mere weakness, and cannot effect anything; or their... read more

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