“God’s time to help his people is, when they are sinking, and all other helps fail.” -Matthew Henry
BLESSED BE the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight–
My Steadfast Love and my Fortress, my High Tower and my Deliverer, my Shield and He in Whom I trust and take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.
Lord, what is man that You take notice of him? Or [the] son of man that You take account of him?
Man is like vanity and a breath; his days are as a shadow that passes away.
Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
Cast forth lightning and scatter [my enemies]; send out Your arrows and embarrass and frustrate them.
Stretch forth Your hand from above; rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, from the hands of hostile aliens (tribes around us)
Whose mouths speak deceit and whose right hands are right hands [raised in taking] fraudulent oaths.
I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp, an instrument of ten strings, will I offer praises to You.
You are He Who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David His servant from the hurtful sword [of evil].
Rescue me and deliver me out of the power of [hostile] alien [tribes] whose mouths speak deceit and whose right hands are right hands [raised in taking] fraudulent oaths.
When our sons shall be as plants grown large in their youth and our daughters as sculptured corner pillars hewn like those of a palace;
When our garners are full, affording all manner of store, and our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our pastures;
When our oxen are well loaded; when there is no invasion [of hostile armies] and no going forth [against besiegers–when there is no murder or manslaughter] and no outcry in our streets;
Happy and blessed are the people who are in such a case; yes, happy (blessed, fortunate, prosperous, to be envied) are the people whose God is the Lord!
Psalm 144, the Amplified Bible
[A Psalm] of David.
The answer to Verses 3 and 4 are to be found in Psalm 33:12 (Amplified Bible)
“Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His heritage;” and in the Words of Jesus, in John 10:10:
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”
According to God’s Word in Philippians 4:19,
“And my God will liberally supply (]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
David knew God, the Creative Father, to be the true Source of his life. As the Creator, all blessings flow into our life from Him who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Even faith is a gift from God. Saving grace is a gift from God (lest any man boast that his own works earned it). He encouraged himself in the Lord His God by praising God for Who He is and His mighty acts – past, present and future -because God is not bound or limited by time – He simply IS. The godly person will echo David’s words, “My praise shall be continually of You…And I will praise You yet more and more.”
(Psalm 71:6, 14)
David’s perspective was properly fixed on the God who changes not and that man’s praise of God can be spontaneous or prearranged as both flows originate equally from a steadfast heart in whom both emotions or the will are centered in God. David learned that man’s praise of God is not contingent upon circumstances because we receive all that we need from God’s hand and He works all things together for the godly man’s good according to His purpose. It is through praise that joy is released and the joy of the Lord is our strength:
“God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free.”
2 Samuel 22:33 (Amplified Bible)
David, like Paul, knew the confident freedom a life centered in God’s love gives:
“But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (Amplified Bible)
God is not limited by time and these voices remind us that the same God – Who sent His Son as announced by the angel Gabriel in Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” This is the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Wonderful Counselor, the SOURCE of all living. The Creator, our Maker. The Beginning and the End. The AMEN.
Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
Psalm 41:13 (Amplified Bible)
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting [from this age to the next, and forever]! Amen and Amen (so be it).”
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