144:1([A Psalm] of David.) Blessed [be] the LORD my strength,
which a teacheth my hands to war, [and] my fingers to
fight:
(a) Who out of a poor shepherd has made a valiant warrior
and mighty conqueror.
144:2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my
deliverer; my shield, and [he] in whom I trust; who b
subdueth my people under me.
(b) He confesses that neither by his own authority, power
or policy was his kingdom quiet, but by the secret
grace of God.
144:3 LORD, what [is] man, that thou c takest knowledge of
him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
(c) To give to God just praise, is to confess ourselves to
be unworthy of so excellent benefits, and that he
bestows them on us of his free mercy.
144:5d Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the
mountains, and they shall smoke.
(d) He desires God to continue his graces, and to send
help for the present need.
144:6e Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out
thine arrows, and destroy them.
(e) By these manner of speeches he shows that all the
hindrances in the world cannot prevent God's power,
which he apprehends by faith.
144:7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of
great f waters, from the hand of strange children;
(f) That is, deliver me from the tumults of they who
should be my people but are corrupt in their judgment
and enterprises, as though they were strangers.
144:8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand [is] a
right hand g of falsehood.
(g) For though they shake hands, they do not keep their
promises.
144:9 I will sing a h new song unto thee, O God: upon a
psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings will I sing
praises unto thee.
(h) That is, a rare and excellent song, as your great
benefits deserve.
144:10 [It is he] that giveth salvation unto kings: who
delivereth David his i servant from the hurtful sword.
(i) Though wicked kings are called God's servants, as was
Cyrus in (Isa 45:1), for he uses them to execute
his judgments: yet David because of God's promise and
they who rule godly are properly so called, because
they do not serve their own affections, but set forth
God's glory.
144:12k That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their
youth; [that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones,
polished [after] the similitude of a palace:
(k) He desires God to continue his benefits toward his
people, counting the procreation of children and
their good education among the chiefest of God's
benefits.
144:13 [That] our l garners [may be] full, affording all
manner of store: [that] our sheep may bring forth
thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
(l) That the corners of our houses may be full of store
for the great abundance of your blessings.
144:14 [That] our m oxen [may be] strong to labour; [that
there be] no breaking in, nor going out; that [there be]
no complaining in our streets.
(m) He attributes not only the great conveniences, but
even the least also to God's favour.
144:15 Happy [is that] people, that is (n) in such a case:
[yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the LORD.
(n) And if God does not give to all his children all
these blessings, yet he replaces them with better
things.
