Psalm 144 Commentary
The wealth of the scripture is such that a man doesn’t have to tire himself digging deeper in order to find treasure. At the same time, there is still a lot more meat in the details. This psalm offers a lot more beneath the lines than we care to know. We shall check a couple of them.
The Christian walk is presented as a battlefield. The LORD trains and equips the military for war. In His role as the Commander of the Armies of the LORD, refer to Joshua 5 verses 13 to 15, the LORD owns the battle. He is responsible for victory as well as failure. He is responsible for strategy as well as execution. The saint is a well-equipment foot soldier. You can choose your uniform and role but the LORD is the brains behind it all.
At the same time, the Christian walk is presented as the most secure form of existence under the watchful eye of the LORD. The LORD is the saint’s stronghold. The saint lives in the green zone – the demilitarized zone. The picture given of the saint is that of a weak man who seeks refuge in the LORD God. The saint’s role here is non-military; he simply takes shelter under the shadow of the Almighty God.
Either way, David wonders why the LORD bothers with us at all. “What are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?”
Then David takes off his military uniform. The weapons of war are decommissioned. He prays that the LORD saves him. David’s role is reduced to celebrating the LORD’s victory with songs of praise. It is a new song! It is a new song because the lyrics are new; the experiences are completely new. The saint cannot have the same song because the LORD is doing new things daily.
When the LORD has saved, then sons and daughters will flourish. The scripture is looking at the blessing of increase. Increase with value. Who wants to have worthless sons and clueless, non-starter daughters? Like plants, well-nurtured sons will be fruitful. Daughters will adorn the LORD’s palace. This is beauty that honors the throne of God.
Prosperity ensues. The crop doesn’t fail. Commerce and industry increase.
There will be no more scattering. The saint is blessed and not cursed. The psalmist is looking at the restoration of the original blessings of the LORD as recorded in Genesis 1 verse 28. Thus, this psalm anticipates a restored existence, as it was back in the Garden of peace and tranquility.
Yet the psalmist is aware of the brevity of life; our days are like a fleeting shadow. You feel there is more to life than just the brief days of battle and running. And in the question, “What are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them,” you get the feeling that there is more to it.
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