Psalms 44:1

Psalm 44

1

For the music leader. A maskil of the Korahites.

1 We have heard it, God, with our own ears; our ancestors told us about it: about the deeds you did in their days, in days long past.

Psalms 44:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 44:1

We have heard with our ears, O God
The church being in distress calls to mind the past favours of God to his people, in order to encourage her faith and hope; and this expression, delivered in such a form, shows the clearness, evidence, and certainty of what was heard; and which was heard not only as a tradition from father to son; but being recorded in the writings of Moses and the prophets, and these things read both in private and in public, were heard with the ear;

our fathers have told us [what] works thou didst in their days, in the
times of old:
such as the signs and wonders in Egypt, the slaying of the firstborn there, and the bringing of the people of Israel from thence with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; which fathers were used to tell in the ears of their sons, and sons' sons; and of which there were memorials continued in future ages, which led children to ask their parents the meaning of them; when they informed them of the wondrous works of Providence done in former times, and by which means they were handed down from age to age: see ( Exodus 10:2 ) ( 12:26 ) ( 13:8 ) .

Psalms 44:1 In-Context

1 We have heard it, God, with our own ears; our ancestors told us about it: about the deeds you did in their days, in days long past.

2 You, by your own hand, removed all the nations, but you planted our ancestors. You crushed all the peoples, but you set our ancestors free.

3 No, not by their own swords did they take possession of the land— their own arms didn't save them— no, it was your strong hand, your arm, and the light of your face because you were pleased with them.

4 It's you, God! You who are my king, the one who orders salvation for Jacob.

5 We've pushed our foes away by your help; we've trampled our enemies by your name.

Footnotes

• [a]. Perhaps instruction