M-W-F Bible study: Psalm 144

Dear friends in Christ,
I ask prayers from you today. We've had a tragedy here in Washington, just an hour north of us, in a rural part of our county, the landslide that you may have heard of in the news. Several people lost their lives, and many are still unaccounted for. Their families must be devastated. I ask for our Lord to bring comfort to them. The potential tragedy isn't over, yet. The slide's debris has blocked a local river, which is now building into a large lake. Rains are expected Tuesday through the end of the week, and this lake could break through and cause devastating flooding. We know families who live in the town where flooding may happen later this week. My heart is heavy for all of the people affected by this slide. I ask for your prayers for them.
Thank you,
Lili

Psalm 144

1A psalm of David. Bless the LORD, who is my rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle.2He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues the nations under me.3O LORD, what are mortals that you should notice us, mere humans that you should care for us?4For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.5Bend down the heavens, LORD, and come down. Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.6Release your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies! Release your arrows and confuse them!7Reach down from heaven and rescue me; deliver me from deep waters, from the power of my enemies.8Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie.9I will sing a new song to you, O God! I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp.10For you grant victory to kings! You are the one who rescued your servant David.11Save me from the fatal sword! Rescue me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie.12May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.13May our farms be filled with crops of every kind. May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands,14and may our oxen be loaded down with produce. May there be no breached walls, no forced exile, no cries of distress in our squares.15Yes, happy are those who have it like this! Happy indeed are those whose God is the LORD.

(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christnotes.org)

"Chapter Contents

David acknowledges the great goodness of God, and prays for help. (1-8) He prays for the prosperity of his kingdom. (9-15)

Commentary on Psalm 144:1-8

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.

Commentary on Psalm 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."