Psa 144:1-5 | Clarke | e4.org | PSALM CXLIV The psalmist praises God for his goodness , 1, 2. Exclamations relative to the vanity of human life , 3, 4. He prays against his enemies , 5-8; and extols God's mercy for the temporal blessings enjoyed by his people , 9-15. NOTES ON PSALM CXLIV The Hebrew , and all the Versions , attribute this Psalm to David . The Vulgate, Septuagint, AEthiopic , and Arabic , term it, A Psalm of David against Goliath . The Syriac says, "A Psalm of David when he slew Asaph, the brother of Goliath." Calmet thinks, and with much probability, that it was composed by David after the death of Absalom, and the restoration of the kingdom to peace and tranquillity. From a collation of this with , of which it appears to be an abridgment , preserving the same ideas, and the same forms of expression, there can be no doubt of both having proceeded from the same pen, and that David was the author. There is scarcely an expression here of peculiar importance that is not found in the prototype; and for explanation I must refer generally to the above Psalm. Verse 1. Teacheth my hands to war ] To use sword, battle-axe , or spear . And my fingers to fight ] To use the bow and arrows , and the sling .

‏ Psalms 144:1-5

PSALM CXLIV

The psalmist praises God for his goodness, 1, 2.

Exclamations relative to the vanity of human life, 3, 4.

He prays against his enemies, 5-8;

and extols God's mercy for the temporal blessings enjoyed by his people, 9-15.

NOTES ON PSALM CXLIV

The Hebrew, and all the Versions, attribute this Psalm to David. The Vulgate, Septuagint, AEthiopic, and Arabic, term it, A Psalm of David against Goliath. The Syriac says, "A Psalm of David when he slew Asaph, the brother of Goliath." Calmet thinks, and with much probability, that it was composed by David after the death of Absalom, and the restoration of the kingdom to peace and tranquillity. From a collation of this with Ps 18:1-50, of which it appears to be an abridgment, preserving the same ideas, and the same forms of expression, there can be no doubt of both having proceeded from the same pen, and that David was the author. There is scarcely an expression here of peculiar importance that is not found in the prototype; and for explanation I must refer generally to the above Psalm.

Verse 1. Teacheth my hands to war] To use sword, battle-axe, or spear.

And my fingers to fight] To use the bow and arrows, and the sling.

Verse 2. Who subdueth my people] Who has once more reduced the nation to a state of loyal obedience. This may refer to the peace after the rebellion of Absalom.

Verse 3. Lord, what is man] See Clarke on Ps 8:4; "Ps 8:5". What is Adam, that thou approvest of him? Can he do any thing worthy of thy notice? Or the son of feeble perishing man, that thou shouldest hold him in repute? What care, love, and attention, dost thou lavish upon him!

Verse 4. Man is like to vanity] Adam lahebel damah, literally, Adam is like to Abel, exposed to the same miseries, accidents, and murderers; for in millions of cases the hands of brothers are lifted up to shed the blood of brothers. What are wars but fratricide in the great human family?

His days are as a shadow] The life of Abel was promissory of much blessedness; but it afforded merely the shadow of happiness. He was pure and holy, beloved of his parents, and beloved of God; but, becoming the object of his brother's envy, his life became a sacrifice to his piety.

Verse 5. Bow thy heavens] See Clarke on Ps 18:9.