Psalms 44

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.

1 ^[a][b]We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

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^[c] 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.

8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.^[d]

9 But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.

10 You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.

11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.

12 You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.

13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.

14 You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.

15 I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame

16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

17 All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant.

18 Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.

19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness.

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

21 would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?

22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

24 Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

25 We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.

Psalms 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.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 7:22; 1 Chronicles 17:20; Jeremiah 26:11
• 2. S Judges 6:13; Exodus 12:26; Psalms 78:3
• 3. S Deuteronomy 32:7; S Job 37:23
• 4. S Joshua 3:10; Acts 7:45; Psalms 78:55
• 5. S Exodus 15:17; S Isaiah 60:21
• 6. S Judges 4:23; S 2 Chronicles 14:13
• 7. Psalms 80:9; Jeremiah 32:23
• 8. Deuteronomy 8:17; Joshua 24:12
• 9. Psalms 78:54
• 10. Exodus 15:16; Psalms 77:15; Psalms 79:11; Psalms 89:10; Psalms 98:1; Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 63:5
• 11. Psalms 89:15
• 12. S Deuteronomy 4:37; Deuteronomy 7:7-8
• 13. S Psalms 24:7; Psalms 74:12
• 14. Psalms 5:2
• 15. S Psalms 21:5
• 16. S Joshua 23:5
• 17. Psalms 60:12; Psalms 108:13
• 18. Genesis 48:22; Hosea 1:7; Psalms 33:16
• 19. S Deuteronomy 20:4; Psalms 136:24
• 20. S Job 8:22; Psalms 53:5
• 21. S Psalms 34:2; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17
• 22. Psalms 52:1
• 23. S Psalms 30:12
• 24. S Psalms 43:2; Psalms 74:1
• 25. S Deuteronomy 8:3; S Deuteronomy 31:17; Psalms 107:39; Isaiah 5:15
• 26. S Joshua 7:12; Psalms 108:11; Psalms 60:1,10
• 27. S Leviticus 26:17; Joshua 7:8; Psalms 89:41
• 28. S Judges 2:14
• 29. ver 22; Jeremiah 12:3; Romans 8:36
• 30. S Leviticus 26:33; S Psalms 9:11; Ezekiel 6:8; Zechariah 2:6; Deuteronomy 4:27; Deuteronomy 28:64; Psalms 106:27
• 31. S Deuteronomy 32:30; Isaiah 52:3; Jeremiah 15:13; Jeremiah 50:1
• 32. S 2 Chronicles 29:8; Isaiah 30:3; Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 42:18; Jeremiah 44:8
• 33. Psalms 79:4; Psalms 80:6; Psalms 89:41
• 34. S Deuteronomy 28:37; S Micah 2:6
• 35. Ezekiel 23:32
• 36. S 1 Kings 9:7
• 37. S 2 Kings 19:21; Psalms 109:25; Jeremiah 24:9
• 38. Genesis 30:23; 2 Chronicles 32:21; Psalms 35:26
• 39. S Psalms 34:5
• 40. S Psalms 42:10
• 41. Psalms 10:13; Psalms 55:3; Psalms 74:10
• 42. S 1 Samuel 18:25; S Jeremiah 11:19; Romans 12:19
• 43. S Deuteronomy 6:12; S Deuteronomy 32:18; Ps 119:16,61,153,176; Proverbs 3:1; Psalms 78:7,57; Daniel 9:13
• 44. Psalms 119:51,157; Job 23:11
• 45. S 2 Chronicles 14:13; Psalms 51:8
• 46. S Job 30:29; S Isaiah 34:13
• 47. S Job 3:5
• 48. S Deuteronomy 32:18; S Judges 3:7; Psalms 78:11
• 49. S Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:12; Jeremiah 5:19; Deuteronomy 6:14; Psalms 81:9
• 50. Psalms 139:1-2; S 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Kings 8:39; Proverbs 15:11; Jeremiah 12:3; Jeremiah 17:10
• 51. S ver 11
• 52. Isaiah 53:7; Jeremiah 11:19; Jeremiah 12:3; Romans 8:36*
• 53. S Psalms 7:6
• 54. Psalms 78:65
• 55. Psalms 59:5
• 56. Psalms 74:1; Psalms 77:7
• 57. S Deuteronomy 32:20; Psalms 13:1; Job 13:24
• 58. Lamentations 5:20
• 59. S Deuteronomy 26:7; Psalms 42:9
• 60. Psalms 119:25
• 61. S Numbers 10:35; S Psalms 12:5; Psalms 102:13; Psalms 35:2
• 62. Psalms 26:11; Psalms 25:22
• 63. Psalms 6:4

Footnotes

• [a]. In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
• [b]. Title: Probably a literary or musical term
• [c]. Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew "King, O God;" / "command"
• [d]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

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.