cPsalm-144
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Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all
other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job,
the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and
history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917
version of the Tanakh).
Please
Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth
from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy
4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Tehillim - Psalm 144 is a prayer of David, written from
the perspective of a warrior king who has seen both battle and blessing. It blends
themes of dependence on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God), human frailty, victory, and the longing
for a peaceful, flourishing nation. It’s a Psalm that speaks to anyone who
feels the tension between struggle and hope, between the battles we face and
the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who equips us to endure them.
Let us now read Tehillim -
Psalm Chapter 144:
(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “(A Psalm) of David. Blessed be יְהוָה - the LORD my Rock, who traineth
my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
2. My loving-kindness, and my
fortress, my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and He in whom I take
refuge; who subdueth my people under me.
3. יְהוָה - 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 unto a breath; his days are as a
shadow that passeth away.
5. O יְהוָה - LORD, bow Thy heavens, and come down; touch the
mountains, that they may smoke.
6. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them; send out Thine arrows, and discomfit them.
7. Stretch forth Thy hands from on high; rescue me,
and deliver me out of many waters, out of the hand of strangers;
8. Whose mouth speaketh
falsehood, and their right hand is a right hand of lying.
9. O אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim, I will sing a new song unto Thee, upon a psaltery of ten
strings will I sing praises unto Thee;
10. Who givest salvation
unto kings, who rescuest David Thy servant from the
hurtful sword.
11. Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of
strangers,
whose mouth speaketh falsehood, and their right hand
is a right hand of lying.
12. We whose sons are as plants grown up in their
youth;
whose daughters are as corner-pillars carved after the fashion of a palace;
13. Whose garners are full, affording all manner of
store;
whose sheep increase by thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
14. Whose oxen are well laden; with no breach, and
no going forth, and no outcry in our broad places;
15. Happy is the people that is in such a case. Yea,
happy is the people whose אֱלֹהִים
יְהוָה - is יְהוָה - the LORD”.
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Let
us now look at the ‘verse by verse’ Item, with a good Explanation:
Verses 1-2. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim as Trainer and Refuge. David opens with a blessing is his rock and the one who trains him for conflict. The military language (“teacheth my hands to war”) acknowledges that skill and success in battle are gifts from אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. The string of metaphors, ‘loving-kindness’, ‘fortress’, ‘high tower’, ‘deliverer’, ‘shield’ balances אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s tender covenantal love with sovereign protection. The final clause (“who subdueth my people under me”) reflects royal responsibility and Divine enablement for leadership.
Verses 3-4. Human Frailty and Divine Regard. A sudden turn to humility: David marvels that the Eternal notices frail human beings. “Man is like to vanity” and “days are as a shadow” emphasize transience. This contrast heightens the wonder that the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who controls the cosmos also attends to ephemeral human life.
Verses 5-6. Cosmic Imagery for Divine Intervention. David petitions אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to act with cosmic force: heavens bowing, mountains smoking, lightning and arrows scattering foes. The language is poetic and theologically charged אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s intervention is not merely tactical but world shaping, a theophany that shakes creation in defense of the righteous.
Verses 7-8: Rescue from Overwhelming Danger and Deceit. “Great waters” evokes overwhelming peril; “strange children” denotes foreign or hostile peoples. The enemies’ speech and hands are described as false; the threat is both physical and moral. David asks for deliverance from treachery as much as from force.
Verse 9: A New Song of Praise. Having appealed for rescue, David promises renewed worship: a “new song” accompanied by the ten stringed instrument. This signals that deliverance will produce fresh liturgy and testimony, personal salvation becomes communal praise.
Verse 10: Historical Memory: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Deliverance of Kings.
David recalls that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim gives salvation to kings and specifically delivered “David his
servant” from the sword. This may be a historical reflection or a royal
liturgical formula, linking personal experience with the broader tradition of
Divine rescue for the Davidic line.
Verse 11. Repetition for Emphasis. The plea for deliverance is repeated, underscoring urgency. The repetition of the enemies’ deceitful mouths and hands reinforces the moral character of the threat and the need for אֱלֹהִים-Elohim’s intervention.
Verses 12-14. Vision of Communal Flourishing. David shifts from personal petition to a national blessing: sons flourishing like well tended plants, daughters as polished cornerstones, full granaries, abundant flocks, strong oxen, and secure streets. This is a holistic picture of shalom, physical prosperity, social stability, and aesthetic dignity for the community.
Verse
15. Theological
Conclusion: Blessedness in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
The Psalm closes with a beatitude: the truly happy
people are those whose אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is יְהוָה
- the LORD. Material blessings are desirable, but the
ultimate source of wellbeing is covenantal relationship with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
My Closing Message”.
This Psalm moves from the intimacy of a warrior’s dependence to a broad, communal hope for flourishing. It holds together realism about human vulnerability, confidence in Divine power, and a pastoral imagination for societal well-being. For a teacher and shepherd of souls, the Psalm offers a model: pray boldly for deliverance, remember אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s past faithfulness, and let personal rescue overflow into prayers for the common good.
May the words of this Psalm continue to shape your prayers, and may the “new song” it inspires find voice in your life.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances,
and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and
you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts.
be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as
well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks,
etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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