Psalms 44:1-8

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.

1 ^[a]^[b]We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.

3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.

4 You are my King and my God, who decrees^[c] victories for Jacob.

5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.

6 I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;

7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.

8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.^[d]

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Psalms 44:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. It is not certain who was the writer of this psalm, nor when it was written, and to what time it belongs: some have thought it was composed by one of the Babylonish captivity, and that it gives an account of the church and people of God in those times; but what is said in Psalm 44:17 does not seem to agree with Daniel 9:5. It is most likely it was written by David, and to him the Targum ascribes it; though it does not respect his times; since what is said in Psalm 44:9 cannot agree with them; yet he being a prophet might, under a prophetic influence, speak of future times, and represent the church in them. Some are of opinion that he prophetically speaks of the times of the Maccabees and of Antiochus, when the church and people of God suffered much for the true religion, and abode steadfast in it; so Theodoret: but rather the whole may be applied to the times of the New Testament, since Psalm 44:22 is cited by the Apostle Paul, Romans 8:36, and is applied to his times, and as descriptive of the suffering state and condition of the church then; and which seems to be the guide and key for the opening of the whole psalm.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 23

1. 2 Samuel 7:22; 1 Chronicles 17:20; Jeremiah 26:11
2. S Judges 6:13; Exodus 12:26; Psalms 78:3
3. S Deuteronomy 32:7; S Job 37:23
4. S Joshua 3:10; Acts 7:45; Psalms 78:55
5. S Exodus 15:17; S Isaiah 60:21
6. S Judges 4:23; S 2 Chronicles 14:13
7. Psalms 80:9; Jeremiah 32:23
8. Deuteronomy 8:17; Joshua 24:12
9. Psalms 78:54
10. Exodus 15:16; Psalms 77:15; Psalms 79:11; Psalms 89:10; Psalms 98:1; Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 63:5
11. Psalms 89:15
12. S Deuteronomy 4:37; Deuteronomy 7:7-8
13. S Psalms 24:7; Psalms 74:12
14. Psalms 5:2
15. S Psalms 21:5
16. S Joshua 23:5
17. Psalms 60:12; Psalms 108:13
18. Genesis 48:22; Hosea 1:7; Psalms 33:16
19. S Deuteronomy 20:4; Psalms 136:24
20. S Job 8:22; Psalms 53:5
21. S Psalms 34:2; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17
22. Psalms 52:1
23. S Psalms 30:12

Footnotes 4

[a]. In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
[b]. Title: Probably a literary or musical term
[c]. Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew "King, O God;" / "command"
[d]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Psalms 44:1-8

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For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.

Psalms 44:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

Cross References 23

Footnotes 4