Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal

Psalms 144:1-15 - Homiletics

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 do not look upon war as the principal activity of nations, we must remember the times to which the psalm belongs, and must take into account the fact that national independence and prosperity were then determined by the sword. We need not be surprised or shocked that the psalmist thanks God for teaching him to be a successful soldier; that he calls God "iris Strength, his Goodness, his Fortress," etc; in this connection . We, too, may thank God heartily for the great soldiers who achieved or preserved our national independence; for the courage and the patriotism which made us secure from all assault from without, and from all attempts to infringe liberty within our borders. We pray for" peace in our time;" we work and strive (if needful) for the maintenance of peace; we may be prepared to make some sacrifices for peace; but we shall not shrink from asking God to "go forth with our armies" when they defend our liberty; nor will we fail to ascribe their victories to him who is our Strength and Fortress, as he was Israel's under David anti Hezekiah.

II. THE CONSTITUENTS OF NATIONAL PROSPERITY . Some of these are mentioned here. Let it be assumed that there is perfect security; that there is no danger of any breach being made in the wall of the city, or any crossing the border of the country—no "breaking in;" nor yet of any being led forth into captivity or exile—no "going out." Then there will be, or should be:

1. Industrial activity , with its full reward ( Psalms 144:13 , Psalms 144:14 ). Agricultural and pastoral pursuits are here mentioned; but, while including them, we naturally think of manufactures, of trade, of commerce, of mining—of all those fields of labor and sources of wealth which are familiar to us. The wise king ( Psalms 144:10 ), the wise government, will give its first concern to the promotion of all kinds of activity, in which every one of its citizens may have his share.

2. The peaceful home . ( Psalms 144:12 .) That country, whatever be its pastoral or mineral wealth, is poor indeed whose sons and daughters are not growing up in health, in wisdom, in virtue, in piety. However full the garners, or well stocked the fields, the great question is that of the home-life and the character of the young. We want our sons to be as plants or trees—strong, living, fruit-bearing, with power of growth, obedient to the laws of Heaven; and our daughters to be as " corner pillars "—fair with the beauty of holiness and kindliness, helping to sustain, useful in the house in which they dwell. Where the children and the young people are declining, there the country is on its downward course; but where they are pure and beautiful and strong, there the country is secure, and its future is assured.

3. True , acceptable worship . "Whose God is the Lord" ( Psalms 144:15 ). The service of God is not only the source of national prosperity; it is an integral and important part of it. Then are the activities of a people most worthily employed, and then is its happiness of the best and truest order—when its citizens are engaged in worshipping the living God, in learning of the great Teacher, in communicating his holy will to the children in the home and in the school.

4. Happiness . ( Psalms 144:15 .)

III. THE WAY TO SECURE IT . ( Psalms 144:1 , Psalms 144:5 .) Praise and prayer. "Bless the Lord," etc. "Bow thy heavens and come down." As the king blesses God and prays for his presence, so also must the people. The recognition by all of the hand of God in past and present mercies, and the continual prayer for future blessing,—this is the condition of Divine favor and the way to permanent enlargement.

IV. OUR INSIGNIFICANCE NO BAR TO OUR PRAYER OR OUR HOPE . ( Psalms 144:3 , Psalms 144:4 .) "Will God in very deed dwell upon the earth?" Will he "bow the heavens and come down" ? Will he take note of us on this small earth? Will he care about one section, one nation, on its surface? Is not frail man, who passes away like a flitting shadow, beneath his regard? The answer to that natural and repeated question is in the historical fact of the manifestation at Sinai; it is also in the much less imposing but immeasurably more affecting and convincing fact of the birth at Bethlehem. Then God came to visit us, to dwell with us, to show us how much he cared for us, to fill our hearts with the truth that not only every nation, but every human soul, is dear to the Father in heaven.

Be the first to react on this!

Scroll to Top

Group of Brands