Salmi 44

1 Maschil, dato al capo de’ Musici, de’ figliuoli di Core. O DIO, noi abbiamo udite colle nostre orecchie, I nostri padri ci hanno raccontate Le opere che tu operasti a’ dì loro, A’ dì antichi.

2 Tu, colla tua mano, scacciasti le genti, e piantasti i nostri padri; Tu disertasti le nazioni, e propagginasti i nostri padri.

3 Perciocchè essi non conquistarono il paese colla loro spada, E il braccio loro non li salvò; Anzi la tua destra, e il tuo braccio, e la luce del tuo volto; Perciocchè tu li gradivi.

4 Tu, o Dio, sei lo stesso mio Re; Ordina le salvazioni di Giacobbe.

5 Per te noi cozzeremo i nostri nemici; Nel tuo Nome noi calpesteremo coloro che si levano contro a noi.

6 Perciocchè io non mi confido nel mio arco, E la mia spada non mi salverà.

7 Anzi tu ci salverai da’ nostri nemici, E renderai confusi quelli che ci odiano.

8 Noi ci glorieremo tuttodì in Dio, E celebreremo il tuo Nome in perpetuo. Sela.

9 E pure tu ci hai scacciati, e ci hai svergognati; E non esci più co’ nostri eserciti.

10 Tu ci hai fatto voltar le spalle dinanzi al nemico; E quelli che ci odiano ci hanno predati.

11 Tu ci hai ridotti ad esser come pecore da mangiare; E ci hai dispersi fra le genti.

12 Tu hai venduto il tuo popolo senza danari, E non hai fatto alcuno avanzo de’ lor prezzi.

13 Tu ci hai posti in vituperio appresso i nostri vicini, In beffa, e in ischerno a quelli che stanno d’intorno a noi.

14 Tu ci hai messi ad essere proverbiati fra le genti, Ed hai fatto che ci è scosso il capo contro fra i popoli.

15 Il mio vituperio è tuttodì davanti a me, E la vergogna della mia faccia mi ha coperto,

16 Per la voce del vituperatore e dell’oltraggiatore; Per cagione del nemico e del vendicatore.

17 Tutto questo ci è avvenuto, e non però ti abbiamo dimenticato, E non ci siam portati dislealmente contro al tuo patto.

18 Il cuor nostro non si è rivolto indietro, E i nostri passi non si sono sviati da’ tuoi sentieri;

19 Quantunque tu ci abbi tritati, e messi in luogo di sciacalli; E ci abbi coperti d’ombra di morte.

20 Se noi avessimo dimenticato il Nome dell’Iddio nostro, Ed avessimo stese le mani ad alcun dio strano,

21 Iddio non ne farebbe egli inchiesta? Conciossiachè egli conosca i segreti del cuore.

22 Anzi, per cagion tua siamo uccisi tuttodì, Siam reputati come pecore da macello.

23 Risvegliati; perchè dormi, Signore? Destati, non iscacciarci in perpetuo.

24 Perchè nascondi la tua faccia? Perchè dimentichi la nostra afflizione e la nostra oppressione?

25 Conciossiachè la nostra anima sia abbassata fin nella polvere, E il nostro ventre sia attaccato alla terra.

26 Levati in nostro aiuto, E riscuotici, per amor della tua benignità.

Salmi 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.