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1 A Psalme of Dauid. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to warre, and my fingers to fight.
2 My goodnes and my fortresse, my high tower and my deliuerer, my shield, and he in whome I trust: who subdueth my people vnder me.
3 Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? or the sonne of man, that thou makest account of him?
4 Man is like to vanity: his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away.
5 Bow thy heauens, O Lord, and come downe: touch the mountaines, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoote out thine arrowes, and destroy them.
7 Send thine hand from aboue, rid me, and deliuer me out of great waters: from the hand of strange children,
8 Whose mouth speaketh vanitie: and their right hand is a right hand of falshood.
9 I will sing a new song vnto thee, O God: vpon a psalterie, and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises vnto thee.
10 It is he that giueth saluation vnto kings: who deliuereth Dauid his seruant from the hurtfull sword.
11 Rid me, and deliuer me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanitie: and their right hand is a right hand of falshood.
12 That our sonnes may be as plants growen vp in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our garners may bee full, affoording all maner of store; that our sheepe may bring forth thousands, and tenne thousands in our streetes.
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 streetes.
15 Happy is that people that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.
David acknowledges the great goodness of God, and prays for help. (1-8) He prays for the prosperity of his kingdom. (9-15)
1-8 When men become eminent for things as to which they have had few advantages, they should be more deeply sensible that God has been their Teacher. Happy those to whom the Lord gives that noblest victory, conquest and dominion over their own spirits. A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for former mercy. There was a special power of God, inclining the people of Israel to be subject to David; it was typical of the bringing souls into subjection to the Lord Jesus. Man's days have little substance, considering how many thoughts and cares of a never-dying soul are employed about a poor dying body. Man's life is as a shadow that passes away. In their highest earthly exaltation, believers will recollect how mean, sinful, and vile they are in themselves; thus they will be preserved from self-importance and presumption. God's time to help his people is, when they are sinking, and all other helps fail.
9-15 Fresh favours call for fresh returns of thanks; we must praise God for the mercies we hope for by his promise, as well as those we have received by his providence. To be saved from the hurtful sword, or from wasting sickness, without deliverance from the dominion of sin and the wrath to come, is but a small advantage. The public prosperity David desired for his people, is stated. It adds much to the comfort and happiness of parents in this world, to see their children likely to do well. To see them as plants, not as weeds, not as thorns; to see them as plants growing, not withered and blasted; to see them likely to bring forth fruit unto God in their day; to see them in their youth growing strong in the Spirit. Plenty is to be desired, that we may be thankful to God, generous to our friends, and charitable to the poor; otherwise, what profit is it to have our garners full? Also, uninterrupted peace. War brings abundance of mischiefs, whether it be to attack others or to defend ourselves. And in proportion as we do not adhere to the worship and service of God, we cease to be a happy people. The subjects of the Saviour, the Son of David, share the blessings of his authority and victories, and are happy because they have the Lord for their God.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.