20. Privileges of God’s Happy People
Hymns: RHC 170 Mary’s Boy-Child, 171 O Little Town of Bethlehem, 376 O to Be Like Thee!
PSALM 144
1 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord 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; 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 God: 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 the Lord. Psalm 144:1-15 (KJV)
PRIVILEGES OF GOD’S HAPPY PEOPLE
OUTLINE
- Recipients of God’s goodness (v1-2)
- Strength & Skill (v1)
- Safety and Sufficiency (v2)
- Realizes their Unworthiness (v3-4)
- Recipients of God’s Divine Help (v5-11)
- From False Accusers
- From Death Threats
- Recipients of Fullness of Blessings (v12-15)
- Valiant Sons
- Beautiful Daughters
- Full Storehouses
- Numerous Stocks
- Labouring Oxen
- Secure Homes
- Void of Complaints
INTRODUCTION
The psalmist tells us, “Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” God’s people have special privileges. Blessed (v1) and happy (v15) characterizes God’s people. The first word “blessed” is from the root word “to kneel”. Kneeling and humbling ourselves before God is blessing. The second word “blessed” describe one whose sins are given, whose destination is heaven, whose life is abundant. Is this your life? How can we have such a life?
(1) Recipients of God’s goodness (v1-2)
- Strength & Skill (v1)
- Safety and Sufficiency (v2)
The psalmist tells us that God is his strength. God is his “Rock” (that is the word “strength”). God is the support and defense of His people. He provides a solid anchor, protection and security for His people. Not only is God his strength. He also endows him with skill to handle life’s problems.
Therefore, he declares unreservedly that God is my goodness (signifies mercy), and my fortress (safe abode); my high tower (beyond the enemy’s reach), and my deliverer (rescues from trouble); my shield (protection) and He in whom I trust (rest my life upon). God provides him skill in leadership (sufficiency to maintain superiority). [Treasury of David]
(2) Realizes their unworthiness (v3-4)
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.
He extols God and knows his place in God’s creation. He is utterly unworthy to receive any of God’s goodness. He sees his minuteness in the vastness of God’s universe. He realizes the brevity of his life, how transient and frail he is. Do we see this in ourselves? When we do so, it brings a solemn and somber disposition to the heart.
(3) Recipients of God’s Divine Help (v5-11)
- From False Accusers
- From Death Threats
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; 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 God: 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:
The power of God to help His people is truly wondrous. He beheld God’s power and praises His condescension to answer their cries. False accusers have a knack to make untruth as the truth. The accused is at a loss how to clear his name. Evil men can be so vindictive they go all out to destroy. In these, the psalmist tells us there is help in God. He is able to deliver. Let His name be praised.
(4) Recipients of Fullness of Blessings (v12-15)
- Valiant Sons
- Beautiful Daughters
- Full Storehouses
- Numerous Stocks
- Labouring Oxen
- Secure Homes
- Void of Complaints
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 the Lord.
Divine blessings come upon God’s privileged people, to their posterity. Our sons are of first importance to the state, since men take a leading part in its affairs; and that the young men are the older men will be. He desires that they may be like strong, well rooted, young trees, which promise great things. If they do not grow in their youth, when will they grow?
If in their opening manhood they are dwarfed, they will never get over it. O the joys which we may have through our sons! And, on the other hand, what misery they may cause us! Plants may grow crooked, or in some other way disappoint the planter, and so may our sons. But when we see them developed in holiness, what joy we have of them!
We desire a blessing for our whole family, daughters as well as sons. For the girls to be left out of the circle of blessing would be unhappy indeed. Daughters unite families as corner stones join walls together, and at the same time they adorn them as polished stones garnish the structure into which they are builded. Home becomes a palace when the daughters are maids of honour, and the sons are nobles in spirit; then the father is a king, and the mother a queen, and royal residences are more than outdone. A city built up of such dwellings is a city of palaces, and a state composed of such cities is a republic of princes. [Treasury of David]
CONCLUSION
All glory and praise rendered to our great God. Amen.