DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2015 June 25
Snake Indians - Testing Bows (1858-1860)
Alfred Jacob Miller (1810-1874)
Romanticism Style
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Image Source: Wikimedia
Explanation: In Psalm 144 David blesses the LORD for past deliverances and asks the LORD for new deliverances. Today's painting illustrates the art of archery. The LORD was David's teacher in the art of war.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: TYPES OF PSALMS: KINGSHIP AND COVENANT PSALMS: Psalm 2. Psalm 18. Psalm 20. Psalm 21. Psalm 24. Psalm 29. Psalm 45. Psalm 47. Psalm 50. Psalm 72. Psalm 81. Psalm 89. Psalm 93. Psalm 95. Psalm 96. Psalm 97. Psalm 98. Psalm 99. Psalm 100. Psalm 101. Psalm 132. Psalm 144. ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
[ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 144 - #1. Psalm 144 - #2. Psalm 144 - #3. Psalm 144 - #4. Psalm 144 - #5. Psalm 144 - #6. ]
David blesses the LORD for teaching him the art of war and acknowledges him as his fortress, his high tower, his shield, his trusted one, and the one who subdues people beneath him (1-2). He is humbled by this and asks what is man that God knows him or takes account of him; man is like vanity, and his life is like a shadow that passes away (3-4). He asks the LORD to bow the heavens and come down upon the mountains (as in Sinai) so that the mountains will smoke, lightning will flash, and his enemies will be destroyed (5-6). And he asks that God will save him by his hand out of great waters -- i.e., from the hand of strange children (the children or sons of foreigners) who speak vanity, whose life is a shadow (7-8). David tells the LORD that he will sing a new song to him with musical instruments because it is God who gives salvation to kings, and who delivered David from the sword (9-10). He therefore again asks God to deliver him from strange children, who speak vanity, and have right hands full of falsehood, so that his sons and the sons of his companions may be as grown plants, their daughters may be as polished corner stones, their garners may be full, their sheep may multiply and fill the streets, their oxen may be strong to labor, their animals may be safe (no breaking in or breaking out), and that there may be peace (no complaining -- literally screeching) in the streets (11-14). He notes that those who are in such a condition are happy, especially if God is their LORD (15).
THE PSALTER:
BOOK FIVE OF FIVE:
Psalms 107-150.
Psalm 144
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.
* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer ( Habakkuk) and a musical notation (" upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a " send to" notice (" To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]
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