Psalm 144:11

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:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

Psalm 144:11-14. Rid me, and deliver me, &c. — “Prayer is again made for a continuance of God’s favour, and a complete victory over every enemy; the happy consequences of which, in the establishment of Israel and the prosperity of Jerusalem, are described.” That our sons, &c. — This mercy I ask not only for my own sake, but for the sake of thy people, that thine and our enemies being subdued, and peace established in the land, thy people may enjoy those blessings which thou hast promised them. That our sons — Who are the strength, safety, and hopes of our nation; may be as plants — Flourishing and thriving, and growing in strength and stature, as plants do in their youth; that our daughters — Upon whom the hope of posterity depends; may be as corner-stones, &c. — Strong and beautiful, and adorned with all the ornaments belonging to their sex. That our garners may be full — That our storehouses may be well replenished with the fruits and products of the earth. That our sheep may bring forth thousands, &c., in our streets — So that they may fill our streets, being brought in great numbers to our towns and cities to furnish meat for the inhabitants. Or, in our folds, or stables, as the Chaldee, Dr. Waterland, and others, render חוצותינו, or, as the LXX. translate the word, εν τοις εξοδοις αυτων, in their outlets, out-goings, or walks; that is, in the fields where they abide. That our oxen may be strong to labour — The oxen are not described by number, as the sheep, but very properly by their firmness and usefulness for tillage; Hebrew, מסבלים, portare facti, formed to bear, namely, the yoke. Some, indeed, interpret the expression, laden, burdened, with flesh and fat. But the former seems the more probable sense of the word. That there be no breaking in — Namely, of enemies, invading our land, or assaulting our cities, and making breaches in our walls; nor going out — Namely, of our people, either out of the towns and cities to fight with an invading enemy, or out of the land into captivity. No complaining — Hebrew, צוחה, no outcry, or howling, or lamentation on account of any sad tidings, or public calamities, or grievances; in our streets — ברחבתינו, a very different word from that rendered streets in the preceding verse. This properly means the broad, spacious ways of cities and towns, but the former word out-places, as out-buildings, folds, or fields. Kimchi observes of these verses, that all those three blessings, namely, of the womb, of the earth, and of cattle, which are mentioned in Deuteronomy 28:4, are specified here.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

144:9-15 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rid me, and deliver me ... - See the notes at Psalm 144:7-8. The language is here repeated. The prayer had been interrupted by the thought that the answer to it would lay the foundation for praise, and by an acknowledgment of entire dependence on God. The psalmist now, after repeating the prayer, suggests what would result from the answer to it, and dwells on the happy consequences which must follow; the bright scenes in his own reign, in the prosperity of the people, in the happiness of the nation, in domestic comforts, and in the abundance which the land would produce when these dangers should pass away, when people now engaged in the conflict of arms might return to the peaceful pursuits of life, when families would be safe in their dwellings, and when the earth cultivated in time of peace would again produce abundance, Psalm 144:12-14.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

PSALM 144

Ps 144:1-15. David's praise of God as his all-sufficient help is enhanced by a recognition of the intrinsic worthlessness of man. Confidently imploring God's interposition against his enemies, he breaks forth into praise and joyful anticipations of the prosperity of his kingdom, when freed from vain and wicked men.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

And upon these accounts grant me the mercy which I desired before, and now again do repeat.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children,.... This is repeated from Psalm 144:7; and is done to show the vehemency and importunity of the request, and the danger David was in, and his sense of it; See Gill on Psalm 144:7;

whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. See Gill on Psalm 144:8.

Geneva Study Bible

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:

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. The repetition of the prayer of Psalm 144:7-8 follows naturally upon the mention of Jehovah’s attributes in Psalm 144:10.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 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 (see above, vers. 7, 8). The passage is made a refrain, to terminate stanzas 2 and 3. Psalm 144:11

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

With the exception of Psalm 108:1-13, which is composed of two Davidic Elohim-Psalms, the Elohim in Psalm 144:9 of this strophe is the only one in the last two Books of the Psalter, and is therefore a feeble attempt also to reproduce the Davidic Elohimic style. The "new song" calls to mind Psalm 33:3; Psalm 40:4; and נבל עשׂור also recalls Psalm 33:2 (which see). The fact that David mentions himself by name in his own song comes about in imitation of Psalm 18:51. From the eminence of thanksgiving the song finally descends again to petition, Psalm 144:7-8, being repeated as a refrain. The petition developes itself afresh out of the attributes of the Being invoked (Psalm 144:10), and these are a pledge of its fulfilment. For how could the God to whom all victorious kings owe their victory (Psalm 33:16, cf. 2 Kings 5:1; 1 Samuel 17:47) possibly suffer His servant David to succumb to the sword of the enemy! חרב רעה is the sword that is engaged in the service of evil.