Psalms 44

Israel's Complaint

1

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

1 God, we have heard with our ears- our forefathers have told us- the work You accomplished in their days, in days long ago:

2 to plant them, You drove out the nations with Your hand; to settle them, You crushed the peoples.

3 For they did not take the land by their sword- their arm did not bring them victory- but by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You were pleased with them.

4 You are my King, my God, who ordains^[a] victories for Jacob.

5 Through You we drive back our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies.

6 For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory.

7 But You give us victory over our foes and let those who hate us be disgraced.

8 We boast in God all day long; we will praise Your name forever. Selah

9 But You have rejected and humiliated us; You do not march out with our armies.

10 You make us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have taken plunder for themselves.

11 You hand us over to be eaten like sheep and scatter us among the nations.

12 You sell Your people for nothing; You make no profit from selling them.

13 You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.

14 You make us a joke among the nations, a laughingstock^[b] among the peoples.

15 My disgrace is before me all day long, and shame has covered my face,

16 because of the voice of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy and avenger.

17 All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten You or betrayed Your covenant.

18 Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from Your path.

19 But You have crushed us in a haunt of jackals and have covered us with deepest darkness.

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

21 wouldn't God have found this out, since He knows the secrets of the heart?

22 Because of You we are slain all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Wake up, Lord! Why are You sleeping? Get up! Don't reject us forever!

24 Why do You hide Yourself and forget our affliction and oppression?

25 For we have sunk down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Rise up! Help us! Redeem us because of Your faithful love.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Syr, Aq; MT reads King, God; ordain
• [b]. Lit shaking of the head
• [c]. Rm 8:36

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.