144:3 what is man. This verse is similar to Psalm 8:4. Interestingly, however, in Psalm 8:4, “man” is the Hebrew enosh, meaning “mortal man.” In Psalm 144:3, “man” is Adam, the name of the first man, meaning “ruddy man” or “mankind in general.” On the other hand, in Psalm 8:4, “son of man” is ben Adam; whereas in Psalm 144:3, “son of man” is ben enosh. Since both psalms were written by David, he must have had some reason for this shift in emphasis. The emphasis in Psalm 8 is on man’s dominion; in Psalm 144, it is on man’s frailty and need of salvation.

144:4 days are as a shadow. Moses wrote that man’s days are like “a tale that is told” (Psalm 90:9), James said they were like “a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). Job, like David, here, said that “our days upon earth are a shadow” (Job 8:9), even though he lived another 140 years after that (Job 42:16). We must live whatever days we may have in light of eternity.

144:9 new song. See notes on Psalm 33:3 and 149:1.

144:15 Happy is that people. The word “happy” (or “blessed”) is used twice in this concluding verse of his next-to-last psalm of Book IV of the Psalms (see note on Psalm 145:21).

Psalm 145 (title) Psalm of Praise. This is the only psalm headed as “Psalm of Praise.” However, see note on Psalm 100.