Psalms 144

Psalms 144:7

7.—great waters.] See the notes on Ps. xviii. 16, and on Numb. xxiv. 7.

—from the hand of strange children:] That is, from the Philistines, or from idolaters. Dimock.

Psalms 144:8

8.—their right hand is &c.] The forms of oaths, like other religious ceremonies, have been always various; but consisting, for the most part, of some bodily action, and of a prescribed form of words. Amongst the Jews, the juror held up his right hand towards heaven, which explains this passage. Archdeacon Paley. See the note on Deut. xxxii. 40.

Psalms 144:10

10.—thy spirit is good; lead me] Let thy good Spirit lead me. Abp. Secker.

—into the land of uprightness.] Or, “through plain ground;” the clause before leads to this sense, and there is an expression much the same, Ps. xxvii. 11, in which the Psalmist prays God to conduct him in a plain level way, (such was that of God’s law,) because if he went out of that, he should be liable to stumble. Mudge.

The Prayer which king David makes at the beginning of this Psalm, in these words, “Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified;” is of such general use, that there is no man who has not reason to make it with humility and fervency. His application to God in the time of trouble teaches us, that, whatever danger we are in, we ought to seek for security and comfort in prayer, and trust in God; and to this end we should meditate upon his works, and the many proofs He has given in all ages of his loving-kindness towards those that fear Him. But whether we are in affliction, or in any other state, we ought above all things to beg of God grace to fear Him, that we may feel the effects of his love, and be guided by his good Spirit. Ostervald.

Psalm CXLIV. ver. 3. Lord, what is man, &c.] This

is spoken in rapture on the regard God had shewn to his petition. Mudge.

Psalms 144:13

13.—our garners] Our storehouses. Green.

Psalms 144:14

14.—no breaking in, nor going out:] No hostile invasion, nor going into captivity. Green.

The last verse of this Psalm leads us to reflect, wherein the peculiar happiness doth now principally consist, of “that people, whose God is the Lord.” Their happiness consists in something far above riches and outward greatness; it consists in having the Lord Himself, the Supreme Governour of the world, to take care of them, and to provide all things needful for them. They have his wisdom to instruct them; his power to protect them; his mercy to pardon them; his grace to adorn them here, and his glory to crown them for ever;