Psalms 144:1

“Blessed [be] the Lord my strength, etc.] The author and giver of his natural strength of body, and of the fortitude of his mind, and of all the spiritual strength he had, to exercise grace, to bear up under afflictions and trials, to perform duty, and withstand enemies. It may be applied to Christ, the antitype of David, the man of God’s right hand, he has made strong for himself. It may be rendered, “my rock”f1919; to whom the psalmist fled for shelter, when in distress and overwhelmed; and on whom he built his faith, and hope of eternal salvation, as well as depended on him for all supplies of grace and strength, and for help and succour in all times of need. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin,…”

“This is a suitable doxology for the whole book, reciting the "place, theme, mode, and extent of God's high praise." (Psa 150:1-6) in his sanctuary--on earth. firmament of his power--which illustrates His power.”

“Blessed be the Lord my strength - Margin, as in Hebrew, “my rock.” See the notes at Psalms 18:46, where the same expression occurs in the Hebrew. Which teacheth my hands to war - Hebrew, “To the war.” See the notes at Psalms 18:34. The Hebrew is not precisely alike, but the sense is the same. And my fingers to fight - Hebrew, my fingers to the fight. That is, he teaches my fingers so that I can skillfully use them in battle. Probably the immediate reference here is to the use of the bow - placing the arrow, and drawing the string. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Ps 144 This lament begins with an exclamation of love for the Lord. The community then reflects on the transitory nature of life (144:3-4). The psalmist prays for divine intervention and anticipates victory (144:5-11). A new song (144:9-10) and a prayer for rescue (144:11) open up the theme of the Lord’s blessing through his provisions and protection (144:12-15). 144:1-2 The psalmist’s descriptive names for the Lord reveal his deep love for him.”

“my strength: Heb. my rock, Psa 18:2, Psa 18:31, Psa 71:3, Psa 95:1; Deu 32:30, Deu 32:31; Isa 26:4 \*marg. Isa 45:24 teacheth: Psa 18:34, Psa 44:3, Psa 44:4, Psa 60:12; Sa2 22:35; Co2 10:4; Eph 6:10, Eph 6:11 to war: or, to the war, etc. Psalms 144:2”

“The whole of this first strophe is an imitation of David's great song of thanksgiving, Ps 18. Hence the calling of Jahve "my rock," Psa 18:3, Psa 18:47; hence the heaping up of other appellations in Psa 144:2, in which Psa 18:3 is echoed; but וּמפלּטי־לי (with Lamed deprived of the Dagesh) follows the model of Sa2 22:2. The naming of Jahve with חסדּי is a bold abbreviation of אלהי חסדּי in Psa 59:11, 18, as also in Jon 2:8 the God whom the idolatrous ones forsake is called הסדּם. Instead of מלחמה the Davidic Psalms also poetically say קרב, Psa 55:22, cf. Psa 78:9. The expression "who traineth my hands for the fight" we have already read in Psa 18:35. The last words of the strophe, too, are…”