THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

CXLIV: Trusting God For Divine Help In Conflicts

(Psalm 144:1-15)

I. Introduction

A. Spiritual conflicts often come upon us when we least expect them, so we are often unguarded in our spirit, leaving us open to spiritual defeat.

B. David's spiritual conflicts were often associated with actual physical combat, for he as a soldier and king was called by God to engage in physical combat for the Lord. He composed Psalm 144:1-15 to testify of his trust in God for divine intervention in such situations, so we study this psalm for our insight and edification:

II. Trusting God For Divine Help In Conflicts, Psalm 144:1-15.

A. The introductory notes comprise part of the first verse in the Hebrew text (Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 1099), so we stay with the numbering system of the English Bible for clarity with this lesson.

B. We then translate Psalm 144:1-15 as follows:

1. "(A psalm) of David. Blessed be Jahweh, my Rock (Cliff or Rock Mountain, fig. here for one's stalwart, dependable protection = sur, Ibid.; H. A. W., Theol. Wrdbk. of the O. T., 1980, v. II, p. 762), Who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle," Psalm 144:1.

2. "He is my God of loyal love and my Fortress, my Stronghold and my Deliverer, my Personal Hand-held Shield (magen, Ibid., Kittel; Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel: Social Institutions, 1961, v. I, p. 244-245) in Whom I take refuge, Who subdues peoples under me," Psalm 144:2.

3. "O Jahweh, what is lowly man ('adam, Ibid., Kittel) that You take note of him, or the son of mortal man ('enosh, Ibid., Kittel) that You (even) think of him?" (Psalm 144:3)

4. Lowly man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow," Psalm 144:4.

5. "Part Your heavens, O Jahweh, and come down; touch the mountains that they might smoke," Psa. 144:5.

6. "Send forth lightning and scatter the enemies; shoot Your arrows (of lightening) and route them," v. 6.

7. "Reach down Your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners" (Psalm 144:7)

8. "whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful," Psalm 144:8.

9. "I will sing a new song to You, O Elohim; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to You," v. 9.

10. "to the One Who gives victory to kings, Who delivers His servant David from the deadly sword," v. 10.

11. "Deliver me and rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful," Psalm 144:11.

12. "Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace," Psalm 144:12.

13. "Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields," Psalm 144:13.

14. "Our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets," Psalm 144:14.

15. "Blessed are the people of whom this is so; blessed are the people whose Elohim is Jahweh," Psa. 144:15.

C. We note significant observations regarding this psalm (as follows):

1. The psalm handles the burden of David's having to face mortal physical combat with threatening and wicked Gentile enemies, and he fittingly looked to God as his All-Sufficient Help not only in equipping him to perform well in combat, but to intervene in the battle to give his army the victory, v. 1-2, 3-11.

2. Consequently, the nation Israel enjoyed comprehensive blessing due to the victory God gave David, v. 12-15, and David claimed the people whose Creator God was Jahweh was indeed very blessed, v. 15.

Lesson: David sought God's help for every need he faced in mortal combat with evil Gentile foes, be it God's personal equipping for his own conduct as a soldier in battle or God's intervention to give his army in Israel the victory that they needed for the nation to enjoy peace and prosperity.

Application: (1) May we who face spiritual conflicts protect ourselves with God's armor (Ephesians 6:10-17) and function in the realm of our supernatural gifting for effective service. (2 Timothy 1:6-7) (2) May we also always pray for God's intervention in such conflicts (cf. Ephesians 6:18-20) that He might give us the victory and blessing.