Psalms 44
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“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” — John 5:39
1We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
PSALM 44
Psa 44:1-26. In a time of great national distress, probably in David's reign, the Psalmist recounts God's gracious dealings in former times, and the confidence they had learned to repose in Him. After a vivid picture of their calamities, he humbly expostulates against God's apparent forgetfulness, reminding Him of their faithfulness and mourning their heavy sorrows.
1-3. This period is that of the settlement of Canaan (Jos 24:12; Jud 6:3).
have told--or, "related" (compare Ex 10:2).
2How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
3For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
4Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
4. Thou art my King--literally, "he who is my King," sustaining the same covenant relation as to the "fathers."
5Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
5. The figure drawn from the habits of the ox.
6For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
6-8. God is not only our sole help, but only worthy of praise.
7But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
8In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
9But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
9. But--contrasting, cast off as abhorrent (Psa 43:2).
goest not forth--literally, "will not go" (2Sa 5:23). In several consecutive verses the leading verb is future, and the following one past (in Hebrew), thus denoting the causes and effects. Thus (Psa 44:10-12), when defeated, spoiling follows; when delivered as sheep, dispersion follows, &c.
10Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
11Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
11. The Babylonian captivity not necessarily meant. There were others (compare 1Ki 8:46).
12Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
13Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
13-14. (Compare De 28:37; Psa 79:4).
14Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
15My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
15. shame of ... face--blushes in disgrace.
16For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
16. Its cause, the taunts and presence of malignant enemies (Psa 8:2).
17All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
17-19. They had not apostatized totally--were still God's people.
18Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
19Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
20-21. A solemn appeal to God to witness their constancy.
stretched out ... hands--gesture of worship (Ex 9:29; Psa 88:9).
21Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
22. Their protracted sufferings as God's people attests the constancy. Paul (Ro 8:36) uses this to describe Christian steadfastness in persecution.
23Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
23-26. This style of addressing God, as indifferent, is frequent (Psa 3:7; 9:19; 13:1, &c.). However low their condition, God is appealed to, on the ground, and for the honor, of His mercy.
24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
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