Bible Commentaries
Psalms 144

Verses 1-2

1. Rejoicing over the Victor 144:1-2

David began this prayer by praising God for training him to be a successful warrior and for granting him victories in the past. He used many synonyms to describe the Lord as his protector and deliverer.

"Egyptian reliefs picture gods teaching the king how to shoot a bow." [Note: The NET Bible note on 144:1.]

Verses 1-15

Psalms 144

This is a prayer that asks for deliverance during war. David praised God for granting victory in past battles and requested success in a present military encounter with an enemy. He was confident that God would save His people.

"This psalm is a mosaic, not a monolith; most of its material, short of the final verses, is drawn from other psalms of David, most substantially Psalms 18." [Note: Kidner, Psalms 73-150, p. 477.]

Verses 3-4

The exalted description of God in Psalms 144:1-2 led David to reflect in amazement that God would take interest in mere mortals. Man’s existence is very brief compared to God’s-He abides forever.

Verses 3-11

2. Petition for present victory 144:3-11

Verses 5-8

The psalmist described God’s intervention-in the present battle David faced-in terms of nature. In the past, God had used rain, thunder, lightning, and hail to give His people victory (Joshua 10; Judges 4-5; et al.). David seems to have been appealing for a similar deliverance. He viewed the enemy army as an overwhelming flood from which he requested deliverance.

Verses 9-11

David promised to praise God with a new song for the victory he believed God would give him. "New songs" in Scripture typically arose out of new experiences. Psalms 144:11 is a kind of refrain (cf. Psalms 144:8).

Verses 12-14

David described three conditions that would exist when God gave him victory. First, the youth of the nation would continue to grow and thrive (Psalms 144:12). Second, prosperity would characterize national life (Psalms 144:13-14 a). Third, peace would prevail (Psalms 144:14 b).

Verses 12-15

3. Rejoicing for future conditions 144:12-15

Verse 15

David began this royal psalm by blessing Yahweh and concluded it by ascribing blessedness on the people of Yahweh.

People who make the Lord their hope of deliverance will enjoy His blessing. They will experience His supernatural salvation and will enjoy the benefits of His saving grace.

"We are to observe this, that while God in giving us meat and drink admits us to the enjoyment of a certain measure of happiness, it does not follow that those believers are miserable who struggle through life in want and poverty, for this want, whatever it be, God can counterbalance by better consolations." [Note: Calvin, 3:271.]