Psalmen 144:1

1 Een psalm van David. Gezegend zij de HEERE, mijn Rotssteen, Die mijn handen onderwijst ten strijde, mijn vingeren ten oorlog;

Psalmen 144:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 144:1

Blessed [be] the Lord my strength
The author and giver of his natural strength of body, and of the fortitude of his mind, and of all the spiritual strength he had, to exercise grace, to bear up under afflictions and trials, to perform duty, and withstand enemies. It may be applied to Christ, the antitype of David, the man of God's right hand, he has made strong for himself. It may be rendered, "my rock" {c}; to whom the psalmist fled for shelter, when in distress and overwhelmed; and on whom he built his faith, and hope of eternal salvation, as well as depended on him for all supplies of grace and strength, and for help and succour in all times of need. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, render it, "my God": and so the word "rock" is used for God, ( Deuteronomy 32:30 Deuteronomy 32:31 ) ; which teacheth my hands to war, [and] my fingers to fight;
he took him from being a shepherd, and made him a soldier; and from being the leader of a flock of sheep, to be a general of armies; and all his military skill in marshalling of troops, in leading them on to battle, and bringing them off as well as all his courage and success, were from the Lord: he whose hands and fingers had been used to the shepherd's crook, and to the handling of the harp and lyre, were taught how to handle the sword, the bow, the shield, and spear. God is a man of war himself; and he teaches the art of war, as he does husbandry and other things; see ( Exodus 15:3 ) ( Psalms 18:34 ) ; and so the Lord furnishes his people, who are here in a militant state, with spiritual armour, to fight against their spiritual enemies; he teaches them how to put it on, and directs them how to make use of every piece of it; as well as gives them boldness to face their enemies, and victory over them.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (yrwu) "rupes mea", Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator so Ainsworth.

Psalmen 144:1 In-Context

1 Een psalm van David. Gezegend zij de HEERE, mijn Rotssteen, Die mijn handen onderwijst ten strijde, mijn vingeren ten oorlog;
2 Mijn Goedertierenheid en mijn Burg, mijn Hoog Vertrek en mijn Bevrijder voor mij, mijn Schild, en op Wien ik mij betrouwe; Die mijn volk aan mij onderwerpt!
3 O HEERE! wat is de mens, dat Gij hem kent, het kind des mensen, dat Gij het acht?
4 De mens is der ijdelheid gelijk; zijn dagen zijn als een voorbijgaande schaduw.
5 Neig Uw hemelen, HEERE! en daal neder; raak de bergen aan, dat zij roken.
The Dutch Staten Vertaling translation is in the public domain.