Psalm 44:3

3 Your people did not conquer the land with their swords; they did not win it by their own power; it was by your power and your strength, by the assurance of your presence, which showed that you loved them.

Psalm 44:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 44:3

For they got not the land in possession by their own sword,
&c.] There were many things which show that the possession of the land of Canaan was not of the Israelites themselves, but of the Lord; as their passing over into it through Jordan as on dry land; the manner in which Jericho, the first city of it, was taken, and the smiting of the Israelites by the men of Ai;

neither did their own arm save them;
from their enemies, and deliver them into their hands: they were too apt to ascribe things to their own righteousness, merit, and power; but such methods were taken by the Lord as to prevent such attributions to themselves; see ( Deuteronomy 8:16 Deuteronomy 8:17 ) ( 9:3-6 ) ;

but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance;
the mighty power of God, his outstretched arm in their favour, and which arose from his pure good will to them;

because thou hadst a favour unto them;
was well pleased, and took delight in them; chose them to be a special people to himself, above all people on the face of the earth.

Psalm 44:3 In-Context

1 With our own ears we have heard it, O God - our ancestors have told us about it, about the great things you did in their time, in the days of long ago:

2 how you yourself drove out the heathen and established your people in their land; how you punished the other nations and caused your own to prosper.

3 Your people did not conquer the land with their swords; they did not win it by their own power; it was by your power and your strength, by the assurance of your presence, which showed that you loved them.

4 You are my king and my God; you give victory to your people,

5 and by your power we defeat our enemies.