Psalm 144
Of David.
Of David. A Psalm of David.
Psalm 144 is clearly David’s hand. Bible scholars point out wording in verses 2 and 10 which may suggest that David was about to be coronated as king over all tribes. Maybe he wrote this for his day of coronation, or possibly right after the ceremony as he pondered his new station. Either way, David is now leading the people. There is still work to do, but David is pledging his faith in the Lord.
It is to God the devout warrior sings when he extols him as his strength and stay.
Charles Spurgeon, English preacher, 1834-1892
Titled My Rock and My Fortress (ESV), Prayer for Rescue and Prosperity (NASB), A Song to the LORD Who Preserves and Prospers His People (NKJV), and A Prayer for Victory (ICB) among others.
There are similarities in wording and ideas with Psalm 18 which is considered David’s great psalm of thanksgiving to God for saving him from his enemies, including the volatile king Saul. For Psalm 144, something great has also happened, and David is still giving God all the glory.
May this song be a reminder in good times to be thankful but to keep right on praying. David never looked to his own strength, nor to the strength of his mighty warriors. David always looked to God.
Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. He makes the nations submit to me. Psalm 144:1-2 NLT
All David is and all that he has is because of God. David had strength and power. He had mighty warriors of great renown, and David was a well-respected warrior himself.
Yet David knew that without the Lord none of his strength and might would hold.
David was called to be a man of war, and he was eminently successful in his battles; he does not trace this to his good generalship or valor, but to his being taught and strengthened for the war and the fight.
Charles Spurgeon, English preacher, 1834-1892
The Lord was his rock. The Lord trained him and strengthened him. The Lord was on his side- a fortress, a tower, and a deliverer. The Lord was David’s shield of protection and safety.
All that David accomplished in his life was due to the Lord’s provision.
Do we say the same?
In our culture, people are quick to accept responsibility for the good things in their lives. They attribute blessings to hard work, persistence, and strength. Interestingly, these same people will then blame someone else for the bad things in their lives.
“What is good is all me.” “What is bad is always someone else’s fault.”
In all things may we remember to give God the glory. In good times and bad.
In verses 1 and 2, David uses quite a few different names for God. All of them claim the Lord as a mighty warrior God- One who protected and trained David, even teaching his fingers what to do. All of these “names” are words describing God’s character and who He has been to David as a shepherd, as a fugitive, as a soldier, and now as a warrior king.
But note this little nugget of wonderfulness . . .
David begins this list with the beautiful, descriptive word translated as loving ally (above in the NLT). In other translations- My lovingkindness (NKJV), Loving God (NIV), He is my steadfast love (ESV). In the Orthodox Jewish Bible- My Chesed (TOJB2011).
Hesed/ Chesed- is a Hebrew word that is difficult to translate into English, and there is no single word used to translate it, hence the differences between Bible translations above. Hesed is the noun that God used to describe His own love and commitment to His children. It’s no wonder that humans have struggled to understand and translate this word. We can similarly spend our whole lives struggling to understand His love for us.
And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Exodus 34:6-7 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
Hesed– lovingkindness, steadfast love, mercy, unfailing love, devotion, grace, loyalty. Yet each of these English words falls short. The truth is that God’s love is supernatural and multifaceted and only can truly be experienced through a relationship with Him. It cannot be described with words. All words fall short.
O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For they are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow. Psalm 144:3-4 NLT
LORD (when in all caps) is the Hebrew tetragrammaton “YHWH”- Yahweh or Jehovah. The greatest name for God. Another word that we cannot comprehend fully outside of an intimate relationship with God Himself. And what a contrast here in this verse between “LORD” and “man.”
Compared to the greatness and majesty of the LORD/Jehovah, David wonders what even is man that He would notice or care what happens to them? Man is just a shadow that passes quickly. Just a breath of air. The Message (one man’s paraphrase of the Bible) says, “just a puff of air.”
But why does God even care?
Another mystery. Another beautiful mystery of our loving, mighty, creator God.
The Lord thinks much of man, and in connection with redeeming love makes a great figure of him: this can be believed, but it cannot be explained.
Charles Spurgeon, English preacher, 1834-1892
If God loved mankind so much, even though we are but a puff of air, then should we also love each other. Jesus came as the greatest example of this. Jesus is God in human form, and He came to show us His love.
And did He ever-
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the greatest commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:35-40
This is not a part of David’s psalm, but it is most definitely a part of the Gospel.
Open the heavens, LORD, and come down. Touch the mountains so they billow smoke. Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies! Shoot your arrows and confuse them! Reach down from heaven and rescue me; rescue me from deep waters, from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead. Psalm 144:5-8 NLT
This is David’s version of “Please, Lord Jesus, come!” And isn’t it a scary thought. David knew that he was on the right side when the Lord returned, but he also knew it will be terrifying. Lightning bolts and arrows flying from the sky. God’s own hand reaching down from the heavens! Mountains shaking and smoking!
The International Children’s Bible translates David’s words as, “LORD, tear open the sky and come down!”
Jesus is the One who says that these things are true. Now He says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20 ICB
For whatever reason, David knew he needed help, and he pleaded with God to help. David was a renowned warrior himself. He had a whole army of experienced men ready to do battle in the name of the Lord. But in this moment, David called for the supernatural. He called for God to reveal Himself and His mighty power. David wanted to be rescued by God. He wanted God to “tear open the sky and come down!”
Jehovah- what is man that you care for them? He is but a breath. Like a fleeting shadow. Like a puff of wind compared to You.
If Jehovah would appear, nothing could stand before him; if the mighty mountains smoke at his touch, then all mortal power which is opposed to the Lord must end in smoke.
Charles Spurgeon, English preacher, 1834-1892
I will sing a new song to you, O God! I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp. For you grant victory to kings! You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword. Psalm 144:9-10 NLT
Now, I will sing a new song!
With each passing grace, every time the Lord rescues or answers our prayers, sing a new song. God’s grace is new every day, may we likewise sing a new song to Him each morning.
For He grants victory to kings! God was there for David as a young shepherd. He was with David on the battlefield facing a giant with only his sling and a few stones. God was with David on the run, hiding in caves, fleeing for his life from the moody king Saul. And now, at the time he wrote Psalm 144, God was with David as king over the people.
And this required a new song.
Save me! Rescue me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth but they lie instead. May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beatify a palace. May our barns be filled with crops of every kind. May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, and may our oxen be loaded down with produce. May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares. Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the LORD. Psalm 144:11-15 NLT
Here are David’s specific prayer requests now that he is king,
-Rescue from his enemies, those lying, deceitful enemies who promise the truth yet tell nothing but lies.
-That the children of Israel would grow healthy and strong.
-That their barns be filled with all they need and the flocks multiply beyond imagination.
-May there never be anyone who comes to attack the walls of Jerusalem to take them into captivity.
-May there never be any cry for help within the town meeting spaces.
-May all be filled with joy.
One commentator made an interesting point. David’s list of requests focused on normal everyday people, the working class. Their homes would be safe. Their sons tall and strong, their daughters sturdy and graceful. Their storehouses, full, and their herds big and growing bigger by the minute.
David also calls for peace within the walls of Jerusalem. That the people would dwell in safety.
Protect us from invasion and exile- eliminate the crime in our streets. The Message
If these things would happen, the people would live in peace and joy. Joy would fill the streets. Joy would fill their homes. Joy would fill the palace.
But, again, David knew where true joy comes from. Not in peace and safety or good fortune.
But truly, the joy of the people is in the LORD.
Despite our circumstances, our joy can be in the Lord.
Despite what goes on in the world around us, God is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and will be tomorrow. God doesn’t change. His promises are true, and He is faithful. God has been faithful; therefore, we can be reassured that He will continue to be faithful.
In Nehemiah 8, the prophet was reading God’s word to all of the people after they returned to Jerusalem from exile and captivity. They wept and mourned as they realized their sin and how far they had fallen from God, and they cried out to Him.
But this is so beautiful! This is what God said to them through the prophet Nehemiah,
Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
The people cried out to their God after a long separation. They knew their sin. They knew how much they needed Him. And God wrapped His arms of forgiveness around His children and filled them with His covenant Hesed love. This is their strength, the joy of the Lord.
This, too, is our strength.
No matter our circumstances, no matter what is going on in the world around us, no matter how far we have fallen from God, the JOY of the Lord is our strength.
“This can be believed yet cannot be explained.”
Jesus said,
And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20b NLT
Father in heaven, thank you for this promise, that you never leave us. You are faithful, and your promises are true. Help us to trust in you no matter what goes on around us. Help us to sing a new song today. A new song filled with your joy and your strength. Help us to ever keep our eyes upon you. Thank you for your word, for your love, and for your faithfulness throughout time and even today. Amen.
Heidi xoxo