Psalm 144

of David

1 Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

3 Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

5 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

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:

13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. (KJV)

Verse three ask the question “O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?” This is the type question that could be used in a group discussion, as well a question that could be used for self-examination. The phase “son of man” is a phase that leaded me to the books of Ezekiel and Mark. This phase is used at least eighty eight times in the New Testament and in Ezekiel it is used around ninety times as God’s reference to Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 2:3 “And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children ofIsrael, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.” Ezekiel was sent as the prophet to Israel during their captivity in Babylon. Ezekiel’s’ message was to a rebellious nation that had rebelled against the way of God. This captivity was a fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy about Israel’s seventy years of captivity (Jeremiah 25:1-14) for Judah’s refuse to repent of their rebellious way. After these seventy years in Babylon the Jewish nation never return to the worship of idols of other Gods.

In Mark 2:2-12 Jesus saw the faith of the four who brought the one that was sick of the palsy and said to him son that sins be forgiven. However, when certain of the scribes heard Jesus they accused him of blasphemies. But Jesus replied “that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) Arise and take up their bed and walk”. Here , Jesus, the Son of God referred to himself the title Son of man. Jesus took on this title to become the sin offering for mankind. Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” So we should learn for Judah’s mistake and repent of our rebellious ways. This offer was made to all, just read John 3:16.

Verse fifteen reads “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.” People all over the world set up idols and Gods that they follow and make it their life’s journey to follow. However, the joy that they have from following their gods and idols is usually short lived and never gives them a true contentment of life that they desire. However, those that have truly make Jesus their Lord and follow in his way can have the peace that passes all understanding and have this happiness found in verse fifteen.