We see several concepts combined into one feast in this chapter: A Scripture Prayer Song which is one basis for our David Defense Fund, and also a piece of the puzzle for our Davidic Harp ministry, which connects with worship/adoration, as well as spiritual warfare through praise.
And yet, this chapter right off the bat does not permit the reader to over-spiritualize: We also see a very practical encouragement to use one’s own limbs as much as possible for self defense in wartime. There is ultimate trust in Abba Father, no doubt; but that does not preclude the use of the human body for practical defense. As even our English proverb states, “Actions Speak Louder Than Words,” which is to say: Actions demonstrate the intention of the words. The intention is to survive, to trust YHWH, and to give Him thanks and praises while on the earth.
We have more pieces to unravel after the fold, but first, see the chapter:
1 [[[A Psalm] of David.]] Blessed [be] YHWH my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, [and] my fingers to fight: 2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and [he] in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 3 LORD, what [is] man, that thou takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4 Man is like to vanity: his days [are] as a shadow that passeth away. 5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children [sons of foreigners]; 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand [is] a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O Elohim: upon a psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 [It is he] that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 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: 12 That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth; [that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones, polished [after] the similitude of a palace: 13 [That] our garners [may be] full, affording all manner of store: [that] our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 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 streets. 15 Happy [is that] people, that is in such a case: [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] YHWH. (Psa 144:1-15 KJV)
Strange Children: Verses 7 and 11 mention who the attackers are: “strange children,” can only be understood as foreigners, which are non-Jews, non-Israelis, such as, for example, the over 3,000 Muslim civilians and military who attacked on Oct 7*, 2023, in the worst attack on Jews since the 1940’s. This would also apply to the Lebanese Muslims who attacked starting on Oct 8, or the Syrians, Iranians, Yemenites who attacked soon thereafter; or the Europeans and other nations worldwide who have stopped the sale of arms and verbally condemned Israel with ridicule, lies, and slander. There is only one Jewish people, and one Jewish nation in the whole world. From that perspective, all other nations consist of “sons of strangers,” with the exception of that remnant which is Grafted In.
What do the Children of Strangers do? Well, they attack with weapons of war, and they also attack with lies. See verse 8 and 11. They (a) speak vanity, and (b) perform actions (right hand) based upon falsehood (lies). This is why the Psalmist thanks YHWH for training his hands and fingers for war, and yet, trusts in protection from YHWH, since the enemies flood like a sea (verse 7 “great waters”).
Dear reader: Are you aware of the Arabic name for the Muslims’ attack against Jews on Oct 7? “Al Aksa Flood.” Their intent was to flood like the waters of the sea from the coast in Gaza all the way up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. They even named their operation “A Flood,” just as it is written in verse 7.
Yet the writing here calls upon YHWH as Israel’s strength (v1), goodness, fortress, high tower, deliverer, and shield (v2), and calls upon YHWH for deliverance from said enemies (v7), depending on Him to send lightning, heavenly arrows, and to scatter them (v6). After all, (v4) who are these enemies but mere men, whose days are short?
We see here a partnership between trusting YHWH while also using one’s own hands and feet to spring into action.
In the same way, when the armies of Britain and the USA defeated ISIS, they did so with their hands and feet to operate military equipment, as well as thru prayer, to the extent that individual army personnel chose to pray. They didn’t merely show up and parachute into ISIS territory with flutes and harps to sing praise songs.
Similarly, the Christians and nativists of Southern Sudan used prayer, faith, and machine guns to defend themselves against the belligerent Muslims of Northern Sudan. That war lasted over 25 years until they won their independence and divided Sudan into two separate nations, North and South.
All nations take up actual weapons to defend themselves if attacked. Why would it be any different for Israel in the present day, or, Israel in the days of yore? This chapter explains quite clearly that for Israel in David’s day, at least, there is a veritable command for self defense; and only by a very long stretch could any modern theology persuasively deny Modern Israel that very same right which is afforded to all other modern tribes, peoples, and nations.
Let’s break out several words from Verse 14:
- No breaking in: The military strength partnered with YHWH’s strength would keep enemies from breaking into homes, from breaking into gated villages. Yet, these breakins did occur on Oct 7 and on many other days.
- No going out: That same partnership of strength would also aim to prevent people from being taken out as captives. For who would sit by idly as their loved ones are taken hostage?
- No complaining in our streets: The streets of Israeli towns and cities were filled with Muslims shooting on sight everyone they found, complaining that Jews had no right to survive, or exist; they shouted “God is Great!” while they raped, burned, and murdered men, women, and children, young and frail.
Finally, Verse 9 speaks of the Instrument of Ten Strings, which is one type of ancient lyre, as well as other instruments as tools for musical praise and worship. The chapter concludes with happiness, which is “the Joy of the LORD is my strength (YHWH is the meaning whenever LORD is spelled in all caps).” See also Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 18:2 & 10; 21:1, in agreement with our Verses 1 thru 15 in this Chapter 144 of the Prayer Songs (Psalms):
The name of YHWH [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Pro 18:10 KJV)
Here’s the crux of it: Trusting in YHWH for ultimate protection is all well and good; Praise and happiness with musical instruments and singing is commanded; but there is no way to avoid the practical hands-on instruction for YAH’s people to use their own hands to also defend themselves against foreigners, as written in the opening verse of this Psalm. Any other reading requires convoluted pretzel-twistings found in Dispensation and/or Replacement Theologies – most of which should have died a sudden death – permanently- in 1948, if not again in 1967.
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*On the Hillel calendar, Oct 7 was the celebration of Simchat Torah–“Rejoicing in the Torah”– the Great Day at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles–Succot–on that day in the Gregorian year of 2023.
