Psalm 144
Israel’s Deliverance from Alien Invasion, and Prosperity in the Land
Israel’s Deliverance from Alien Invasion, and Prosperity in the Land
Psalm 144. This Psalm of David speaks of Israel’s final deliverance from their enemies, and their prosperity on the land. Prophetically, it looks forward to the time when all Israel will be subdued under their Messiah, they will be delivered from Gog and Magog (repeatedly called “the aliens”), the last enemy, and it is Jehovah who fights for them. It describes Israel’s praise and fruitfulness in the land once all enemies are put down.
PSALM 144
A Psalm of David.
1 Blessed be Jehovah my rock, who teacheth my hands to war, my fingers to fight;
2 My mercy and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I trust, who subdueth my people under me!
vv.1-2 The Voice of Christ in Victory. These verses appear to be Messianic. We have the voice of Christ, who steps forward to fight as the victorious conqueror, and yet ever the dependent man. His people Israel are subdued under Him.
3 Jehovah, “what is man [‘Adam’], that thou takest knowledge of him, the son of man [‘Enosh’], that thou takest thought of him?” [quoted Hebrews 2:6]
4 Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
5 Jehovah, bow thy heavens, and come down; touch the mountains, that they smoke;
6 Cast forth lightnings, and scatter them; send forth thine arrows, and discomfit them:
7 Stretch out thy hands from above; rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of aliens,
8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
vv.3-8 Jehovah Condescends to Deliver Israel. The Psalmist marvels at the condescending grace of God, to take thought of frail man, who “is like to vanity”, and “his days are as a shadow that passeth away”. Israel calls for Jehovah to move the creation itself at His will for the deliverance of His people and the judgment of their enemies; “bow thy heavens, and come down; touch the mountains”, etc. The enemies are from without – “from the hand of aliens” – an allusion to Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39).
9 O God, I will sing a new song unto thee; with the ten-stringed lute will I sing psalms unto thee:
10 Who givest salvation unto kings; who rescuest David thy servant from the hurtful sword.
11 Rescue me, and deliver me from the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; our daughters as corner-columns, sculptured after the fashion of a palace:
13 Our granaries full, affording all manner of store; our sheep bringing forth thousands, ten thousands in our pastures;
14 Our kine laden with young; no breaking in and no going forth, and no outcry in our streets.
15 Blessed the people that is in such a case! Blessed the people whose God is Jehovah!
vv.9-15 Israel’s Praise. Israel sings a new song, of which redemption is the theme, on an instrument of ten strings (the harp). They praise Jehovah for bringing their Messiah to them, of whom David is a type. They have been rescued from the hand of the aliens (Gog and Magog). Israel looks forward to a happy and fruitful environment in their land: sons and daughters flourish, the granaries are full, the flocks are pregnant, etc. What a contrast with their history! They will be “blessed” or happy when in that case; “Blessed the people that is in such a case! Blessed the people whose God is Jehovah!” Jehovah is the center of all their joy.