Psalm 144:3

3 Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son of man, that thou takest account of him?

Psalm 144:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 144:3

Lord, what [is] man, that thou takest knowledge of him?
&c.] Man, that is at most and best but a creature, made of the dust of the earth, is but dust and ashes; yea, a sinful creature, that drinks up iniquity like water: and yet the Lord not only knows him, as he is the omniscient God, but takes notice of him in a way of providence, and in a way of grace. His chosen people are no other nor better than others, of the same original, and of the same character; and yet he owns and acknowledges them as his peculiar people, and makes himself known unto them: and so it is rendered by the Septuagint version, "that thou shouldest be known unto him?" or, "appear to him?" as the Arabic; reveal thyself to him, not only by the light of nature and works of creation, but in Christ, and by the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him?
as the Lord does, especially of some of the sons of men; whom he reckons as his portion and inheritance, his jewels and peculiar treasure, and who are as dear to him as the apple of his eye; whom he "magnifies", as in ( Job 7:17 ) ; makes them kings and priests; raises them from the dunghill, and sets them among princes, to inherit the throne of glory; on whom he sets his heart, and loves them with an everlasting love: or, "that thou shouldest think of him?" ^F7 thoughts of peace, and not of evil; so as to provide a Saviour for men, and send down the Spirit of his Son into their hearts to quicken them; so as to bless them with all spiritual blessings, and at last to glorify them. David no doubt had a special respect to himself; and wondered at the goodness of God to him, in taking him from a family of little or no account, from a mean employ, from a shepherd's cottage, and raising him to the throne of Israel; and especially in making him a partaker of grace, and an heir of glory; see ( Psalms 8:4 ) ; which is applied to Christ, ( Hebrews 2:6-9 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (whbvxtw) "quod cogites de eo", Tigurine version, Vatablus.

Psalm 144:3 In-Context

2 My mercy, and my refuge; my helper, and my deliverer; my protector, in whom I have trusted; who subdues my people under me.

3 Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son of man, that thou takest account of him?

4 Man is like to vanity: his days pass as a shadow.

5 O Lord, bow thy heavens, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 Send lightning, and thou shalt scatter them: send forth thine arrows, and thou shalt discomfit them.

7 Send forth thine hand from on high; rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of strange children;

8 whose mouth has spoken vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity.

9 O God, I will sing a new song to thee: I will play to thee on a psaltery of ten strings.

10 Even to him who gives salvation to kings: who redeems his servant David from the hurtful sword.

11 Deliver me, and rescue me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth has spoken vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity;

12 whose children are as plants, strengthened in their youth: their daughters are beautiful, sumptuously adorned after the similitude of a temple.

13 Their garners are full, and bursting with one kind of store after another; their sheep are prolific, multiplying in their streets.

14 Their oxen are fat: there is no falling down of a hedge, nor going out, nor cry in their folds.

15 Men bless the people to whom this lot belongs, but blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.