Praising the Lord, singing of His greatness and mercy, and standing before Him give us an opportunity to enter into communion with Him...
Praising the Lord, singing of His greatness and mercy, and standing before Him give us an opportunity to enter into communion with Him. By repeating the psalms that poured from David's heart, we can touch the same feelings that inspired the psalmist. But here we have testimony that David not only expressed the prayerful feelings that filled him, but was also ready to join the assembly of other people at prayer. He joined not only the prayers of his contemporaries, but also those of people who would praise the Lord from generation to generation. And we see that David's voice is not lost in the general chorus, nor is his song drowned out by others. It sounds as distinctive as ever, while the whole diversity of voices remains harmonious.
Many people who cherish their individuality hesitate to cross the threshold of the Church because they fear being leveled and, as it seems to them, dissolved into a uniform mass. But we know that this is not so. Each person has a voice of his own; the Lord calls each of us by name and loves each in a special way, and therefore the path through self-denial leads to finding oneself. The readiness to renounce egocentrism and self-admiration is precisely the beginning of the path toward revealing the riches that He has placed in every unique person.
144 David blesses God for his mercies, Psa 144:1-4. Prays against his enemies, Psa 144:5-8. Promises to praise him, Psa 144:9-11. The happiness of those who serve God, Psa 144:12-15. A psalm of David.
144:2 Subdued - Who hath disposed my peoples hearts to receive and obey me as their king.
144:5 Come - To help me. Smoke - As Sinai did at thy glorious appearance, Exo 19:18. This is a figurative and poetical description of God's coming to take vengeance upon his enemies.
144:7 Strange children - Either of the Heathen nations: or of the rebellious Israelites.
144:8 Vanity - Vain brags and threatenings which shall come to nothing.Falsehood - Deceiving themselves, by being unable to do what they designed; and others, by not giving them that help which they promised.
144:12 That - This mercy I beg not only for my own sake, but for the sake of thy people, that they may enjoy those blessings which thou hast promised them; and particularly, that our sons, who are the strength and hopes of a nation, may be like plants, flourishing and growing in height and strength, as plants do in their youth; for when they grow old, they wither and decay. Cornerstone - Strong and beautiful.
144:14 Breaking in - Of enemies invading the land, or assaulting our cities, and making breaches in their walls. Going out - Of our people, either out of the cities to fight with an invading enemy: or out of the land into captivity.