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Spiritually Speaking => Pastor Al Moak's Study => Manna For The Soul => Songs of Worship & Psalm 119~Psalms Studies => Topic started by: Al Moak on May 01, 2004, 08:03:10 PM

Title: Psalm 144
Post by: Al Moak on May 01, 2004, 08:03:10 PM
Psalm 144

This was a song to be sung by the people when their armies were going out to war.  It's a confident song, a song of praise to the only One Who could and would give them safety and final victory in battle. 

And there would indeed be battle!  A foreign army awaits David and his army.  They're the army of a nation with whom they thought they had peace, but who had been secretly waiting to attack them. 

But that foreign army wasn't counting on Jehovah's blessing upon Israel and so didn't know what they were up against!  Every warrior in David's army could confidently say, "Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle – my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in Whom I take refuge!" Their Lord wasn't like one of the foreign gods - unable to do anything, but He was right there with each soldier, right there strengthening his arms, guiding his sword, sending his arrows straight and true.

Understandably, David expresses awe and humility before such a God.  He just has to say, "Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?  Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?  Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow."

But then, realizing that Jehovah DOES "take knowledge of him" – that He's concerned for the minutest details of His people's lives - he prays for help from Him.  He prays to the Almighty Whose very lightest touch would make the  very mountains smoke, Whose flashing lightning would scatter the enemy, Whose arrows would easily and quickly destroy them!  He reminds the Lord that these enemies were liars whose supposedly peaceful actions were just a cover for deadly intentions against Jehovah's people.

Then, having prayed to the God of battle Who could give them victory, David also makes a vow to Him, a vow that could and would be paid after the victory.  He says, "I will sing a new song to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You, the One Who gives salvation to kings, Who delivers David His servant from the deadly sword."  It's a joyful vow, a vow David knows he will be able to pay and a vow that he will gladly pay!

He then adds reasons to his plea for help in battle.  He desires the victory, he says, so that "our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style, etc."  In other words, David is saying, he wants victory so that the Lord's own covenant people may prosper in the land He gave them.  He wants victory, he says, so that they may be able to sing this song, so that all the world may know that, "happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the Lord!"

Oh that we might realize the modern applications of this song!  The Church is the Israel of our day.  And the Church is in a daily battle against a deadly, lying enemy!  Do you pray for each "warrior?"  Do you pray to the only One Who can teach His people how to fight in this deadly battle?  And then do you praise God for the victories, knowing that it is He Who really provides them?  Oh let all the people of God in our day sing this psalm as they go out to face the world, the flesh, and the Devil!

Title: Re: Psalm 144
Post by: Jenny on August 07, 2004, 08:19:26 PM
Thank you.  I love this Psalm.  I really like the description of the "Happy Land". 

"No enemy attacking the walls, but peace everywhere. No crime in  our streets...Happy are those whose God is Jehovah"...Amen.  (Liv. Bible)

I have done this recently..made a vow to the Lord.  I have needed an answer to a prayer for so long but I realise I must not run before the Lord. JHe does subdue peoples under me in amazing ways.  he fights all my battles for me with the city Council, landlord etc.,...What Wonderful Big God!

God bless Pastor.
Jenny.
Title: Re: Psalm 144
Post by: Al Moak on August 07, 2004, 09:59:28 PM
Jenny - He does indeed deal with even the minutest aspects of our lives, just as He did with Israel!  He CARES.  Call upon Him, for He hears.
Title: Re: Psalm 144
Post by: Pat on August 07, 2004, 10:08:03 PM
Quote from: Al Moak on August 07, 2004, 09:59:28 PM
Jenny - He does indeed deal with even the minutest aspects of our lives, just as He did with Israel!  He CARES.  Call upon Him, for He hears.

Ohh, yes!  He cares and He hears and He loves ME!  I've sure claimed this in the past days.

Title: Re: Psalm 144
Post by: Al Moak on August 07, 2004, 10:10:53 PM
And dear Pat - i'm glad for your sake to know that He really DOES care!
Title: Re: Psalm 144
Post by: Pat on February 09, 2009, 12:07:23 AM
We've read this Psalm again tonight and after reading Photobro's description of the bushfires in Australia, it was kind of eery to read of the fires in this Psalm.


What a wonderful Psalm! 

"Happy is that people that is in such a case:  yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord"