Psalm 144 is similar to Psalm 18. In both psalms David celebrates the victories God gave him over his enemies, and in in both he begins with praise to God who has been many things for him. In Psalm 18 the list is my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my strength, my shield, the horn of my salvation and my stronghold. All of them are names that emphasize God’s protection. The list in Psalm 144 is as long but broader in scope: my rock; the one who teaches my hands for war, my fingers for battle; my lovingkindness, my stronghold, my high place, the one who gives me escape, my shield, my refuge and the one who subdues my people under me. The Lord not only defends him but trains him for war, shows him lovingkindness and exalts him as king.
The psalm has two main parts. In the first (vv. 1–2), which has no corresponding part in the chiasm that shapes the rest of the psalm, David blesses the Lord. In the second (vv. 3–15) he makes petition.
The main petition appears twice (vv. 7b–8 and 11) and is exactly the same in both places except for the phrase “from the great waters” in 7b. It is a petition for deliverance from the hands of foreign enemies who are using their mouths and hands treacherously against David.
Verses 3–7a, immediately preceding the first statement fo the main petition, marvels at the Lord’s condescension to him—“What is man that you will know him?”—and asks him to descend with revelations of his power, as a mighty warrior, to scatter his enemies. This passage is similar to Psalm 18:7–15.
The paragraph that corresponds to verses 3–7a in the chiasm (vv. 12–15) urges the purpose of the petition: the well-being of sons and daughters (v. 12), prosperity (13–14a), and peace (14b–c). It ends with the exclamation: “Happy is the people like this! Happy is the people whose God is Yahweh,” who gives such blessings as these.
Note that the B section begins with the name Yahweh, and the B’ section ends with the same name.
In the middle of the chiasm (vv. 9–10) David again praises the Lord for what he has done for him. He has delivered “David his servant from the evil sword.”
We can understand the psalm properly only if we see that it is a prayer of the king for himself. David does not pray just as a child of God in trouble, but as the king of God’s people, whose deliverance and safety are essential for the youth, the prosperity and the peace of the kingdom. Yahweh is the one who subdues his people under him (v. 2) and gives salvation to kings (v.10).
Therefore, the psalm is a prayer of Christ our king surrounded by his enemies, blessing his God fortraining in war and calling on Yahweh to deliver him so that his brothers and sisters may grow up strong and beautiful, so that their spiritual prosperity may be abundant, and so that their peace may be without disturbance.
Happy are we if the Lord is our God and Christ our king! In the deliverance of our king is our own salvation and joy.
Structure-Psalm-144