Shīpiān 44

1 ( Kĕlā hòuyì de xùn huì shī , jiāo yǔ líng zhǎng ) shén a , nǐ zaì gǔ shí , wǒmen lièzǔ de rìzi , suǒ xíng de shì , wǒmen qīn ĕr tīngjian le , wǒmen de lièzǔ , yĕ gĕi wǒmen shùshuō guo .

2 Nǐ céng yòng shǒu gǎn chū waìbāngrén , què zāipéi le wǒmen lièzǔ . nǐ kǔdaì liè bāng , què jiào wǒmen lièzǔ fā dá .

3 Yīnwei tāmen bú shì kào zìjǐ de dāo jiàn dé tǔdì , yĕ bú shì kào zìjǐ de bǎngbì déshèng . nǎi shì kào nǐde yòushǒu , nǐde bǎngbì , hé nǐ liǎn shang de liàngguāng , yīnwei nǐ xǐyuè tāmen .

4 Shén a , nǐ shì wǒde wáng , qiú nǐ chū lǐng , shǐ Yǎgè déshèng .

5 Wǒmen kào nǐ yào tuī dǎo wǒmen de dírén . kào nǐde míng yào jiàntà nà qǐlai gōngjī wǒmen de rén .

6 Yīnwei wǒ bì bú kào wǒde gōng , wǒde dāo yĕ bùnéng shǐ wǒ déshèng .

7 Wéi nǐ jiù le wǒmen tuōlí dírén , shǐ hèn wǒmen de rén xiūkuì .

8 Wǒmen zhōng rì yīn shén kuā yào , hái yào yǒngyuǎn chēngxiè nǐde míng . ( xì lā )

9 Dàn rújīn nǐ diūqì le wǒmen , shǐ wǒmen shòu rǔ , bú hé wǒmen de jūn bīng tóng qù .

10 Nǐ shǐ wǒmen xiàng dírén zhuǎn shēn tuì hòu . nà hèn wǒmen de rén rènyì qiǎngduó .

11 Nǐ shǐ wǒmen dāng zuò kuaì yào beì chī de yáng , bǎ wǒmen fēnsàn zaì liè bāng zhōng .

12 Nǐ maì le nǐde zǐmín , yĕ bù zuàn lì . suǒ dé de jiàzhí , bìng bù jiā tiān nǐde zīcái .

13 Nǐ shǐ wǒmen shòu lín guó de xiūrǔ , beì sìwéi de rén chīxiào jī cī .

14 Nǐ shǐ wǒmen zaì liè bāng zhōng zuò le xiào tán , shǐ zhòng mín xiàng wǒmen yáo tóu .

15 Wǒde língrǔ , zhōng rì zaì wǒ miànqián . wǒ liǎn shang de xiūkuì , jiāng wǒ zhē bì .

16 Dōu yīn nà rǔmà huǐbàng rén de shēngyīn , yòu yīn chóudí hé bàochóu rén de yuángù .

17 Zhè dōu líndào wǒmen shēnshang . wǒmen què méiyǒu wàngjì nǐ . yĕ méiyǒu wéibeì nǐde yuē .

18 Wǒmen de xīn méiyǒu tuì hòu , wǒmen de jiǎo yĕ méiyǒu piānlí nǐde lù .

19 Nǐ zaì yĕ gǒu zhī chù yēshāng wǒmen , yòng sǐ yīn zhē bì wǒmen .

20 Tǎngruò wǒmen wáng le shén de míng , huò xiàng bié shén jǔ shǒu ,

21 Shén qǐbù jiàn chá zhè shì ma . yīnwei tā xiǎodé rén xīnli de yǐn bì .

22 Wǒmen wèi nǐde yuángù zhōng rì beì shā , rén kàn wǒmen rú jiāng zǎi de yáng .

23 Zhǔ a , qiú nǐ shuì xǐng , wèihé jǐn shuì ne . qiú nǐ xīngqǐ , búyào yǒngyuǎn diūqì wǒmen .

24 Nǐ wèihé yǎn miàn , bú gù wǒmen suǒ zāo de kǔnàn , hé suǒ shòu de qīyē .

25 Wǒmen de xìngméng fú yú chéntǔ . wǒmen de dǔ fù jǐn tiē dì miàn .

26 Qiú nǐ qǐlai bāngzhu wǒmen , píng nǐde cíaì jiùshú wǒmen .

Shīpiān 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.