A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 144
PSALME CXLIV.
DAvid being now King, but yet not fully setled on his throne, in this Psalme giveth thanks to God for the work already wrought, v. 1, 2▪ 3, 4. and prayeth for compleating the deliverance, and setling of him in his Kingdom, v. 5, 6, 7, 8. and in hope to be heard, promiseth praise to God, v. 9, 10. and in the last place, repeateth his petition, with reasons taken from the benefit which should redound unto the Lords people, by setling of him in his Kingdom, v. 11, 12, 13, 14.
Vers. 1. BLessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to warre, and my fingers to fight,
2. My goodnesse, and my fortresse, my high tower, and my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I trust: who subdueth my people under me.
3. LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? or the sonne of man; that thou makest account of him?
4. Man is like to vanity: his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away.
In Davids thanksgiving for what the Lord had done for him; Learn, 1. As we are to praise God for mercies received, when we would have new mercies: so we are to strengthen our faith for receiving new benefits, by looking what we have received already, as David doth here. 2. The believer hath all his abilities and furniture, not so much in what is received already in himself, as without himself in God: Blessed be the Lord my strength. 3. As what skill, what furniture of strength, what successe a man hath in any thing, is of the Lord: so the acknowledgment thereof, is both a part of his thankfulnesse unto God, and a meanes of the confirmation of his own faith: Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. 4. What the Lord is in his own nature, he is in his good-will, Covenant, and operation toward the beleever, and so appropriate unto the believer as his own treasure, out of which he is furnished in all things: therefore David calleth him, My goodnesse. 5 …ny evils are ready to rush in upon the believer, which the Lord wardeth off as a bulwark: and upon this account David aith, My fortresse 6. When trouble from the world and inferiou… creatures do fight against the believer, the Lord lifteth him up above all and compasseth him about with defence; for thi…, David saith, My high tower. 7. Albeit it, pleaseth the Lord sometime to let trouble in upon the believer ye… he suffereth not the believer to perish therein, nor the trouble to harme him more then if it had been kept off: for this cause, David calleth God, My deliverer. 8. Albeit the Lord will guard the believer on all hands, when he is to enter the lists with an enemie, yet will he be employed for this end: for this cause David compareth the Lord to a shield or buckler, and calleth him▪ My shield. 9. The multitude of wayes, how God is, and may be steadable unto us, serveth to make use of him by faith, according to our several necessities, as David teacheth, saying, It is he in whom I trust. 10. As the light of faith, sheweth what God is to us by right and Covenant: so also it sheweth to us, what are his operations and particular benefits bestowed upon us; It is he, (saith David,) who subdueth my people under me. 11▪ Gods mercies are then most highly esteemed of, when the beleever is humbled in the sense of his humane frailty and unworthinesse in general, and of his own in particular; Lord, what is man that thou takest knowledge of him? 12. It is a mercy to be wondered at, that the unworthinesse of man, doth neither hinder God to love him, nor to esteem of him: What is the son of man that thou makest account of him? 13. There is nothing in a m…n wherein he can glory, nothing which can deserve any thing at Gods hand, and all natural perfections are but the shadow of something in effect: Man is like to vanity. 14. Were there no more to abase a man, have what he may have in this world, his mortality and shortnesse of life is a sufficient reason for it; His d…yes are a shadow that passeth away, and all this commendeth the riches of Gods grace and good-will to man, and helpeth the believers faith against the enmity of man.
Ver. 5. Bow thy Heavens, O LORD, and come downe: touch the mountaines, and they shall smoke.
6. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them, shoot out thine arrowes and destroy them.
7. Send thine hand from above, rid me, and deliver me out of great waters: from the hand of strange children.
8. Whose mouth speaketh vanity: and their right hand is a right hand of falshood.
In the next place, he prayeth to God to let forth his power, for subduing the rest of the Kingdome under him, by repressing of his enemies, and saving him from their contention and conspiracies against him. Whence learn, 1. How unworthy soever a man be in his own eyes, he may seek great things of God, according to the estimation and respect he hath in Gods eyes: for upon this account David prayeth, that God would …ow the Heavens and come down, for his help, that is, would humble himself so far as to own his owne servant. 2. If God please to manifest himself for any of his servants against the highest powers on earth, they shall soon feel the force of his wrath, like …ire taking hold on them: Touch the mountaines, and they shall smoak. 3. No man can stand against him who hath thunder and lightning at his command, and arrowes of destruction, to shoot as he pleaseth: Cast forth thy lightning and scatter them, shoot out thine arrowes and destroy them. 4. Whatsoever the power of adversaries may be, or the difficultie or danger the believer can be in, if he shall oppose Gods good-will and Omnipotency for him, against the difficulty, he shall be Master over it: Send thine hand from above, rid me, and deliver me out of great waters. 5. The enmity of false brethren, counterfeit Professors of Religion, whose words, Oathes and Covenants cannot binde them, nor secure the godly whom they maligne, is no lesse dangerous then deep and raging waters are, out of which God only can deliver a man: for, Deliver me out of great waters, is expounded here, Deliver me from the hands of strange children whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falshood.
Ver. 9. I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a Psaltery, and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
10. It is he that giveth salvation to Kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
He addeth his purpose and promise to praise God for the benefit which he prayeth for, as a reason of his hope to be heard. Whence learn, 1. The Lord in wisdom, giveth deliverance out of trouble, by parts and degrees, and so dispenseth his benefits, as he may give his children occasion, both of oftner prayer, and of oftner new praises, as Davids experience sheweth, who having given thanks for the bringing of him to the Kingdome in part, prayeth for enlarging of the benefit, and promiseth upon this account a new thanksgiving: I will sing a new song unto thee, O God. 2. The upright engaging of our heart to praise God for the benefit which we pray for, is an argument of hope that we shall have it, as here David maketh use of it; I will sing a new Song unto thee, O God. 3. According as a benefit not yet received hath lustre, and doth shine in our eye, so are we content to be in Gods debt for thanksgiving, if he shall grant it, (let the performance thereof prove as it may) as we see here in David, who, because the adding of the government of the eleven tribes unto his Kingdome over the tribe of Iudah, seemed to be a great accession unto his present possession, if God should give them to him, he promiseth large thanks: Upon a Psaltery▪ and an instrument of … strings will I sing praises unto thee ▪ which imports the highest measure of his praising God, that he could imagine; and unto this his promise, he subjoyneth the forme of thanksgiving which he did purpose to use. 4. It is not the place or power of a man, how great soever he be, which doth preserve a man, but the greatest of men must be preserved by God, no lesse then the meanest, It is he that giveth salvation unto Kings. 5. One experience is sufficient to a beleever, for confirming his faith in any general doctrine, as here, He who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword, is sufficient to make him subscribe, that It is he that giveth salvation to Kings.
Vers. 11. Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity: and their right hand is a right hand of falshood.
12. That our sonnes may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a Palace.
13. That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in our streets.
14. That our oxen may be strong to labour, that there be no breaking in, nor going out: that there be no complaining in our streets.
He repeateth his prayer for delivery from false and treacherous enemies, whom neither Word nor Writ, neither Oath not Covenant could binde, and addeth yet more reasons of enlarging of his Kingdome, from the benefits which might come to the Lords people thereby. Whence learn, 1. As the greatnesse of a benefit, so also the greatnesse of the difficulties which may hinder that benefit, being foreseen, should sharpen prayer for the benefit▪ and against the impediments thereof, as here the repetition of, Rid me, and deliver me, &c. doth teach us. 2. He that is called to publick employment o… office of governing of a people should seek all things of God, for the publick good of the people mainly, and should make the holy peace and prosperity of the people their main aime, as David here craveth deliverance from his enemies, and the enlarging of his power, that the people might prosper and flourish both in children and riches; That our sonnes may be as plants, &c. 3. Godly Magistrates are a special meanes of peace and prosperity to the subjects, and should be careful, as in training up of young men in grace and vertue, so as they may be fruitful instruments of the publick good; as plants grown up in their youth: so also of young women, that they may be beautified with all endowments, which may make them to be godly mothers of the succeeding age: Our daughters may be corner stones, polished after the similitude of a Palace. 4. Peace and plenty of corne and cattel, and other things needful for this present life, are benefits of God in themselves, very helpful for the standing of a Kingdom, and training up of the youth in goodnesse and vertue, and worthy to be prayed for; That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store, that our sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in our streets. 5. For the continuance of prosperity and peace in a land, industry in every mans vocation is requisite, and so righteous behaviour of the people, as may prevent not only war offensive and defensive, but also may prevene lest any vagabond beggers be suffered, or indigent persons forced to complain in the streets: for so much is imported, while he saith, That our oxen may be strong to labour, that there be no breaking in, to wit, of forreign enemies; nor going out, to wit, of the people to invade other Nations; That there be no complaining in our streets, for want of justice or necessary maintenance.
Ver. 15. Happy is that people that is in such a oase; yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
He closeth the Psalme with the commendation of such a condition of a well-governed people, but with a provision, that they be in Covenant with God, and believe in him. Whence learn, 1. A people is happy which is so governed and cared for, and blessed of God, as Israel was under the reigne of David the servant of the Lord: Happy is th… people that is in such a case, as is here described. 2. A peoples happinesse is not solid, where true Religion is not setled: where the people is not in a Covenant of grace, and reconciliation with God, whatsoever worldly prosperity they may have: but so many as are in favour with God, and do walk in friendship with him, they are blessed, whatsoever be their outward condition: Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.