Psalms 144:1-7

1 By David: Blessed be ADONAI, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.

2 He shows me grace; and he is my fortress, my stronghold, in whom I find shelter, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.

3 ADONAI, what are mere mortals, that you notice them at all; humans, that you think about them?

4 Man is like a puff of wind, his days like a fleeting shadow.

5 ADONAI, lower the heavens, and come down; touch the mountains, make them pour out smoke.

6 Shoot out lightning, and scatter them; send out your arrows, and rout them.

7 Reach out your hands from on high; rescue me; save me out of deep water, out of the power of strangers,

Psalms 144:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 144

\\<>\\. This psalm was written by David; not on account of the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, by a spirit of prophecy, as Theodoret; but on his own account, after he was come to the throne, and was king over all Israel; and was delivered from the was between him and Israel, and from the war of the Philistines, as Kimchi observes, having gained two victories over them: or it was written between the two victories, and before he had conquered all his enemies; since he prays to be delivered from the hand of strange children, Ps 144:7,11. R. Obadiah thinks it was written on the account of his deliverance from Absalom and Sheba; but the former is best. Some copies of the Septuagint, and also the Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, have in their titles these words, ``against Goliath;'' and so Apollinarius; as if it was written on account of his combat with him, and victory over him; but this clause is not in the Hebrew Bibles; nor could Theodoret find it in the Septuagint in the Hexapla in his time. The Syriac inscription is still more foreign to the purpose, ``a psalm of David, when he slew Asaph the brother of Goliath.'' R. Saadiah Gaon interprets this psalm of the times of the Messiah; and there are several things in it which are applicable to him.