Psalms 44

1 For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. A maskil: God, we heard it with our ears; our fathers told us about it -a deed which you did in their days, back in days of old.

2 With your hand you drove out nations to plant them in [the land], you crushed peoples to make room for them.

3 For not by their own swords did they conquer the land, nor did their own arm give them victory; rather, it was your right hand, your arm and the light of your face; because you favored them.

4 God, you are my king; command complete victory for Ya'akov.

5 Through you we pushed away our foes, through your name we trampled down our assailants.

6 For I don't rely on my bow, nor can my sword give me victory.

7 No, you saved us from our adversaries; you put to shame those who hate us.

8 We will boast in our God all day and give thanks to your name forever. (Selah)

9 Yet now you have thrust us aside and disgraced us; you don't march out with our armies.

10 You make us retreat from the adversary, and those who hate us plunder us at will.

11 You have handed us over like sheep to be eaten and scattered us among the nations.

12 You sell your people for a pittance, you don't even profit on the sale.

13 You make us an object for our neighbors to mock, one of scorn and derision to those around us.

14 You make us a byword among the nations; the peoples jeer at us, shaking their heads.

15 All day long my disgrace is on my mind, and shame has covered my face

16 at the sound of those who revile and insult, at the sight of the enemy bent on revenge.

17 Though all this came on us, we did not forget you; we have not been false to your covenant;

18 Our hearts have not turned back, and our steps did not turn away from your path,

19 though you pressed us into a lair of jackals and covered us with death-dark gloom.

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

21 wouldn't God have discovered this, since he knows the secrets of the heart?

22 For your sake we are put to death all day long, we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Wake up, Adonai! Why are you asleep? Rouse yourself! Don't thrust us off forever.

24 Why are you turning your face away, forgetting our pain and misery?

25 For we are lying flat in the dust, our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Get up, and come to help us! For the sake of your grace, redeem us!

Psalms 44 Commentary

Chapter 44

A petition for succour and relief.

Verses 1-8 Former experiences of God's power and goodness are strong supports to faith, and powerful pleas in prayer under present calamities. The many victories Israel obtained, were not by their own strength or merit, but by God's favour and free grace. The less praise this allows us, the more comfort it affords, that we may see all as coming from the favour of God. He fought for Israel, else they had fought in vain. This is applicable to the planting of the Christian church in the world, which was not by any human policy or power. Christ, by his Spirit, went forth conquering and to conquer; and he that planted a church for himself in the world, will support it by the same power and goodness. They trusted and triumphed in and through him. Let him that glories, glory in the Lord. But if they have the comfort of his name, let them give unto him the glory due unto it.

Verses 9-16 The believer must have times of temptation, affliction, and discouragement; the church must have seasons of persecution. At such times the people of God will be ready to fear that he has cast them off, and that his name and truth will be dishonoured. But they should look above the instruments of their trouble, to God, well knowing that their worst enemies have no power against them, but what is permitted from above.

Verses 17-26 In afflictions, we must not seek relief by any sinful compliance; but should continually meditate on the truth, purity, and knowledge of our heart-searching God. Hearts sins and secret sins are known to God, and must be reckoned for. He knows the secret of the heart, therefore judges of the words and actions. While our troubles do not drive us from our duty to God, we should not suffer them to drive us from our comfort in God. Let us take care that prosperity and ease do not render us careless and lukewarm. The church of God cannot be prevailed on by persecution to forget God; the believer's heart does not turn back from God. The Spirit of prophecy had reference to those who suffered unto death, for the testimony of Christ. Observe the ( psalms 44:25-26 ) but the poor sinner's pleas. None that belong to Christ shall be cast off, but every one of them shall be saved, and that for ever. The mercy of God, purchased, promised, and constantly flowing forth, and offered to believers, does away every doubt arising from our sins; while we pray in faith, Redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

Chapter Summary

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.