Psalms
Chapter 144
Prayer After Victory
Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle—
my loving God, my fortress; my protector and deliverer, my shield; where I take refuge; who conquers nations and subjects them to my rule.
O Lord, what are humans that you should be mindful of them, the race of Adam, that you should care for them?
They are like a breath; their days pass like a shadow on earth.
Bend your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountain and make it smoke.
Flash forth lightning and rout the foe; shoot your arrows and scatter them.
From above, reach down and draw me out of the deep waters, from the hands of foreigners,
whose mouths speak falsehood, whose words are full of deceit.
I will sing a new song to you, O God; I will make music on the ten-stringed harp,
for you, who gives victory to kings and deliver David, your servant.
Rescue me from the evil sword and from the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak falsehood, whose words are full of deceit.
May our sons be like plants well-nurtured and full-grown; and our daughters, like pillars that adorn the corners of the temple.
May our barns be full, with every kind of provision. May our sheep increase by thousands, even by tens of thousands, in our pastures.
May our cattle be strong and fruitful; and may there be an end to raids and exile, to cries of distress in our streets.
Happy are the people so blessed; happy the people whose God is the Lord!
Commentaries
144
Our Lord, the Son of Man, experienced our weakness and struggles, but through this, he showed us that God’s strength is often greatest in our weakness, bringing us joy and salvation.
The new heavens and the new earth take us beyond the psalm (cf. Rev 21:1-4; 2 P 3:13; Rom 8:19-23). The people of God, who look forward to the new kingdom, are being shaped in the midst of history. It is helpful to remember that models live; they inspire us. Most importantly, we should focus on the Lord, who initiated and fulfills our faith.
God responded to the psalmist’s prayer in verse 5 when he said, ‘Bend your heavens, O Yahweh, and come down.’ For in John 1:1, ‘In the beginning was the Word,’ and in John 1:14, ‘And the Word was made flesh.’ Then, in Luke 2:12, an angel of the Lord said, ‘Today a Savior has been born to you in David’s town; he is the Messiah and the Lord.’ Jesus showed us the way. He taught us how to pray. He taught us to love. He guided us along the narrow path. In short, if we have faith and believe, we will be with him one day in heaven.