Psalms 144:15

Happy [is that] people that is in such a case,.... Whose families are in good order and behave well; who enjoy plenty of all good things; whose flocks and herds increase, and who live in peace and

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. Happy (is that) people that is in such a case; (yea), happy (is that) people whose God (is) the Lord. This is the Epiphonema.

This is a correction of the last sentence. This is a very desirable estate; but the true and chief happiness of our Israel doth not consist in these things, which are common to others with us, but in this peculiar privilege, that the true and blessed God is our God by covenant and special relation.

Psalms 144:15 Happy [is that] people, that is in such a case: [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the LORD.Ver. 15. Happy is that people] That hath such a confluence of outward comforts. In Hezekiah’ s days only it was so, say the Rabbis, peace, plenty, and posterity. The Syriac rendereth it questionwise: Is not the people happy that is in such a case? No, not except they have God to boot; as, if they have, they are happy howsoever, Deuteronomy 33:29 : ut vita carnis anima est, ita beatitudo hominis Deus, saith Austin.

(15) Happy.—It is only a narrow and one-sided religion that can see anything out of place in this beatitude of plenty and peace. If we could rejoice with the psalms, fully and without misgiving, in the temporal blessings bestowed by Heaven, we should the more readily and sincerely enter into the depths of their spiritual experience. And the secret of this lies in the full comprehension and contemplation of the beautiful and pleasant as the gift of God.

Verse 15. Happy is that people] "O how happy are the people!" Such were his people; and they had not only all this secular happiness, but they had Jehovah for their God; and in him had a ceaseless fountain of strength, protection, earthly blessings, and eternal mercies! A people in such a case to rebel, must have the curse of God and man. ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOURTH PSALM This Psalm is divided into three parts: - I. A thanksgiving, Psalms 144:1-5. II. A petition, Psalms 144:5-11. III. A discussion on happiness, and in what it consists, Psalms 144:12-15. I. The prophet gives thanks, and praises God. 1. "Blessed be the Lord:" c. Who has taught me in a general way the art of war, in a particular way the use of the sling giving me skill, c. 2. "He is my strength," &c. The strength I have is from him. 3. "My goodness," &c. Benignity or mercy. 4. "My fortress," &c. To him I fly as to a stronghold. 5. "And my Deliverer." Therefore will I trust in him. From the consideration of so many benefits, the psalmist exclaims, "Lord what is man," &c. To which question he replies, - 1. "Man is like to vanity." If God be not his fulness and strength. 2. "His days," &c. God is always the same but man changes every moment. II. He prays for God's assistance: "Bow thy heavens," c. "Cast forth lightning," &c. If men will not acknowledge thy mercy, let them see thy judgments. This first part of his petition against his enemies being ended, he prays, - 1. "Rid me, and deliver me:" &c. From dangers of men. 2. "From the hand of strange children:" &c. Moabites, Philistines, &c. Upon whom he sets these two characters. 1. "Whose mouth speaketh vanity:" &c. Lies, insincere words. 2. "At their right hand:" &c. They use their power to oppress and deceive. Then the psalmist exclaims, as in a short hymn - 1. "I will sing a new song," &c. And this I will do because "thou hast given victory," &c. "Thou hast delivered David," &c., from Saul, Absalom, &c. 2. And then he repeats, and concludes his petition as before: "Rid me," &c. III. His petition being ended, he discourses on the nature of happiness, which is of two kinds, temporal and spiritual. The addition of temporal blessings is pleasant, and promised to the obedient: but godliness is the only safety in this, and especially in the life to come: "For godliness," &c. God created temporal goods not merely for the wicked they are often the rewards of piety. The psalmist therefore prays, - 1. "That our sons," c. They are the pillars of a house let them be flourishing. 2. "That our daughters," c. Stones that join the building, beautiful as well as useful. 3. "That our garners may be full," &c. That we may have abundance. 4. "That our sheep," &c. Our flocks' increase. 5. "That our oxen," &c. May be healthy and strong. 6.

15. Happy is the people of Jehovah’s choice, to whom He shews such manifest tokens of His favour in temporal prosperity; and yet more truly happy are they in the spiritual blessing of having Jehovah for their God. He is the source and sum of all true happiness, temporal and eternal. The second line is from Psalms 33:12, with the substitution of the later form of the relative pronoun sh for asher. See note on p. 739.

Happy is that people that is in such a case - In such a condition; or, where these things prevail. Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord - Whose God is Yahweh; who worship and serve Him as their God.

15. Happy is that people—A climax is here given. “Happy” is the people that has such material prosperity, but happier still is the people among whom the true God is known.