Psalms 144:12

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: THAT OUR SONS MAY BE AS PLANTS GROWN UP IN THEIR YOUTH - `growing up vigorously in their times of youth' (Psalms 128:3). Deliverance from the enemy is a necessary preliminary to having a vigorous population. In times of oppression by a foreign enemy pale and sickly children abound. THAT OUR DAUGHTERS MAY BE AS CORNER-STONES, POLISHED AFTER THE SIMILITUDE OF A PALACE. Female figures were used instead of columns in supporting buildings, called by the Romans Caryatides. This usage, if it existed in David's time and country, would beautifully illustrate this verse. The Hebrew for "corner-stones" is used of 'the corners of an altar,'...

12._Because our sons_, _etc_. These three concluding verses some consider as being a wish or a prayer. (271) Others think that David congratulates himself, and all the people, that through the divine blessing every species of mercy was showered down prosperously upon them. I have no doubt that David commemorates, by way of thanksgiving, the liberality which God had shown to his people. But it consists very well with this, to suppose that he prays at the same time for the continuance or preservation of those divine benefits which must well-nigh be cut off altogether by wicked men and domestic foes, unless God should interpose, in the troubles and confusions which prevailed. The end he has in view therefore is, that God would not suffer the signal blessings with which he had loaded his people to fail and depart. He begins by making mention of the children, comparing the male portion of the...

9-15 Fresh favours call for fresh returns of thanks; we must praise God for the mercies we hope for by his promise, as well as those we have received by his providence. To be saved from the hurtful sword, or from wasting sickness, without deliverance from the dominion of sin and the wrath to come, is but a small advantage. The public prosperity David desired for his people, is stated. It adds much to the comfort and happiness of parents in this world, to see their children likely to do well. To see them as plants, not as weeds, not as thorns; to see them as plants growing, not withered and blasted; to see them likely to bring forth fruit unto God in their day; to see them in their youth growing strong in the Spirit. Plenty is to be desired, that we may be thankful to God, generous to our friends, and charitable to the poor; otherwise, what profit is it to have our garners full? Also, un...

Verse Psalms 144:12. _THAT OUR SONS_ MAY BE _AS PLANTS_] God had promised to his people, being faithful, THREE _descriptions_ of BLESSINGS, Deuteronomy 28:4. 1. The _fruit of the body_ - sons and daughters. 2. The _fruits of the_ _ground_ - grass and corn in sufficient plenty. 3. _Fruit of the_ _cattle_ - "the increase of kine, and flocks of sheep." These are the blessings to which the psalmist refers here, as those in which he might at present exult and triumph: blessings _actually enjoyed_ by his people at large; proofs of his mild and paternal government, and of the especial blessing of the Almighty. The people who _were in such a state_, and revolted, had no excuse: they were doubly guilty, as ungra

THAT OUR SONS MAY BE AS PLANTS GROWN UP IN THEIR YOUTH - That our sons - not called forth to the hardships of the tent and the field, the perils and the exposures of war - may grow up under the culture of home, of the family, in quiet scenes, as plants carefully cultivated and flourishing. Compare Psalms 128:3. The Hebrew here is, “grown large in their youth;” not “grown up,” which has a paradoxical appearance. The meaning is, that they may be stout, strong, vigorous, well-formed, even in early life; that they may not be stunted in their growth, but be of full and manly proportions. THAT OUR DAUGHTERS MAY BE AS CORNERSTONES - The word used here - זויות _zâvı̂yôth_ - occurs only in the plural form, and means properly “corners” - from a verb meaning to hide away, to conceal. The word i

EXPOSITION A PSALM in which praise and prayer are commingled. Almost certainly Davidic: 1. From the title. 2. From the style. 3. From the way in which David is mentioned in Psalms 144:10 (comp. Psalms 61:6; Psalms 63:11; and especially Psalms 18:50). PSALMS 144:1 BLESSED BE THE LORD MY STRENGTH; or, "my rock" (comp. Psalms 18:2

THAT OUR SONS [MAY BE] AS PLANTS GROWN UP IN THEIR YOUTH,.... The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read, "whose sons [are as] plants", c. as if this and what follows were a description of the families, estates, substance, and outward happiness of wicked men, the enemies of David, the strange children he desired to be delivered from, agreeably to Job 21:7 and if the word "saying", or "who say", be supplied, as by some o, and connected with "that our sons are", c. they may express the vain boastings of these men, and explain what is meant by the vanity their mouth spake as well as furnish out another reason for the repetition of the above requests, namely, for the sake of introducing those vain boasts to which the happiness of good men is opposed, who have an interest in God as their God,...

A Psalm of David. No doubt written after some great victory, and also before another severe struggle. The Christian man seldom escapes from one difficulty without falling into another. Thanks be unto God, he that is with us in six troubles will not forsake us in the seventh! Psalms 144:1. _Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hand to war, and my fingers to fight:_ David does not ascribe any honour to himself. Human strength is from within, from the nerves, and sinews, and muscles, but the believer's strength is from without: «Blessed be Jehovah my strength.» Now, if Jehovah be our strength, then nothing can be too difficult for us, for he whose strength is the omnipotence of God can do all things. «Which teacheth my hands to war:» just as the young soldier was, as it were, bound apprentice to the old warrior, went out to learn the drill, and afterwards w

PSALM 143-145 In Psalms 143:1 the enemy is mentioned again, the enemy who pursued David. “For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has smitten my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have long been dead.” How this again reminds us of the death experience of the pious remnant when the man of sin, the Antichrist will rule in Israel's land. Prayer for deliverance follows. Hear me speedily--Hide not Thy face from me--Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness--Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies, I flee unto Thee to hide me! The next Psalm riseth higher. Faith lays hold on God. Israel, as David did, will look in faith to Him who has the power to deliver His trusting ones. “My Goodness, and my Fortress; my high tower and my deliverer; my shield and He in whom I trust; who subdueth the peoples under me” (literal translation). They acknowledge before

CXLIV. Ascribed by LXX and also by T. to David against Goliath, but without any shadow of reason. Psalms 144:1 is really a mosaic chiefly taken from Psalms 18, but also from Psalms 8, 33, 104. It is a song of anticipated triumph. The Psalmist is in conflict with foreign enemies (strangers (Psalms 144:7) can only mean foreigners). God teaches his fingers to fight, for it is the fingers which grasp the bow and subdue peoples (not my people) under him. He prays that a display in storm and lightning may discomfit his foes. They can be bound by no treaty, for the right hand (Psalms 144:8), which is raised in taking an oath, is false and treacherous. But the Psalmist's triumph is secure. David ...