Psalm 44:2-7

2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.

3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.

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

5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.

6 I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;

7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.

Psalm 44:2-7 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. S Joshua 3:10; Acts 7:45; Psalms 78:55
• 2. S Exodus 15:17; S Isaiah 60:21
• 3. S Judges 4:23; S 2 Chronicles 14:13
• 4. Psalms 80:9; Jeremiah 32:23
• 5. Deuteronomy 8:17; Joshua 24:12
• 6. Psalms 78:54
• 7. Exodus 15:16; Psalms 77:15; Psalms 79:11; Psalms 89:10; Psalms 98:1; Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 63:5
• 8. Psalms 89:15
• 9. S Deuteronomy 4:37; Deuteronomy 7:7-8
• 10. S Psalms 24:7; Psalms 74:12
• 11. Psalms 5:2
• 12. S Psalms 21:5
• 13. S Joshua 23:5
• 14. Psalms 60:12; Psalms 108:13
• 15. Genesis 48:22; Hosea 1:7; Psalms 33:16
• 16. S Deuteronomy 20:4; Psalms 136:24
• 17. S Job 8:22; Psalms 53:5

Footnotes

• [a] Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew "King, O God;" / "command"