Psalm 44

1 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, the work which thou wroughtest in their days, in the days of old.

2 Thine hand utterly destroyed the heathen, and thou didst plant them: thou didst afflict the nations, and cast them out.

3 For they inherited not the land by their own sword, and their own arm did not deliver them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou wert well pleased in them.

4 Thou art indeed my King and my God, who commandest deliverances for Jacob.

5 In thee will we push down our enemies, and in thy name will we bring to nought them that rise up against us.

6 For I will not trust in my bow, and my sword shall not save me.

7 For thou hast saved us from them that afflicted us, and hast put to shame them that hated us.

8 In God will we make our boast all the day, and to thy name will we give thanks for ever. Pause.

9 But now thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and thou wilt not go forth with our hosts.

10 Thou hast turned us back before our enemies; and they that hated us spoiled for themselves.

11 Thou madest us as sheep for meat; and thou scatteredst us among the nations.

12 Thou hast sold thy people without price, and there was no profit by their exchange.

13 Thou hast made us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision them that are round about us.

14 Thou hast made us a proverb among the Gentiles, a shaking of the head among the nations.

15 All the day my shame is before me, and the confusion of my face has covered me,

16 because of the voice of the slanderer and reviler; because of the enemy and avenger.

17 All these things are come upon us: but we have not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt unrighteously in thy covenant.

18 And our heart has not gone back; but thou hast turned aside our paths from thy way.

19 For thou hast laid us low in a place of affliction, and the shadow of death has covered us.

20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread out our hands to a strange god; shall not God search these things out?

21 for he knows the secrets of the heart.

22 For, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for slaughter.

23 Awake, wherefore sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, and do not cast us off for ever.

24 Wherefore turnest thou thy face away, and forgettest our poverty and our affliction?

25 For our soul has been brought down to the dust; our belly has cleaved to the earth.

26 Arise, O Lord, help us, and redeem us for thy name’s sake.

Psalm 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.