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Psalms 44

Psalms44

American Standard Version · Public Domain

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1 We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, What work thou didst in their days, In the days of old.

2 Thou didst drive out the nations with thy hand; But them thou didst plant: Thou didst afflict the peoples; But them thou didst spread abroad.

3 For they gat 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 wast favorable unto them.

4 Thou art my King, O God: Command deliverance for Jacob.

5 Through thee will we push down our adversaries: Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

6 For I will not trust in my bow, Neither shall my sword save me.

7 But thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And hast put them to shame that hate us.

8 In God have we made our boast all the day long, And we will give thanks unto thy name for ever. Selah

9 But now thou hast cast us off, and brought us to dishonor, And goest not forth with our hosts.

10 Thou makest us to turn back from the adversary; And they that hate us take spoil for themselves.

11 Thou hast made us like sheep appointed for food, And hast scattered us among the nations.

12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, And hast not increased thy wealth by their price.

13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to them that are round about us.

14 Thou makest us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples.

15 All the day long is my dishonor before me, And the shame of my face hath covered me,

16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth, By reason of the enemy and the avenger.

17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, Neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

18 Our heart is not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from thy way,

19 That thou hast sore broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.

20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god;

21 Will not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise, cast us not off for ever.

24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: Our body cleaveth unto the earth.

26 Rise up for our help, And redeem us for thy lovingkindness’ sake.

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Psalms 44

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 44. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: A petition for succour and relief..

vv1-8

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.

vv9-16

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.

vv17-26

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 pleas used, verses 25, 26. Not their own merit and righteousness, 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

Psalms 44
v22Romans 8:36fulfillment

Paul explicitly quotes this verse to describe the constant suffering and steadfastness of God's people.

Supported by JFB

The military metaphor of pushing down enemies with horns is borrowed from Moses' blessing of Joseph.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Fulfilled covenant curse of becoming a proverb, byword, and reproach among the surrounding nations.

Supported by JFB

v1Exodus 10:2thematic

God commands fathers to tell their sons of His wondrous works, establishing Israel's oral tradition.

Supported by JFB

v2Psalms 80:8thematic

Parallel botanical metaphor of God plucking up the Canaanites to plant Israel as a vine.

Supported by John Calvin

v10Leviticus 26:36thematic

Direct realization of the Levitical curse where God makes Israel turn back and flee in fear.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Psalms 79:4thematic

Nearly identical phrasing depicting Israel as a reproach, scorn, and derision to neighboring peoples.

Supported by JFB

v6Hosea 1:7thematic

God promises to save His people not by bow, sword, battle, or horses, but by Himself.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9Psalms 43:2thematic

Poignant parallel cry of abandonment, expostulating with God for casting off His people.

Supported by JFB

v19Psalms 23:4thematic

Identical Hebrew imagery of the dark, perilous 'shadow of death' in times of extreme affliction.

Supported by JFB

v61 Samuel 17:47thematic

David's battle confession that the Lord saves not with sword and spear.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Sovereign judicial abandonment, where God 'sells' His people into the hands of their enemies.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v20Exodus 9:29thematic

Stretching out the hands described as the physical gesture of prayer and covenant worship.

Supported by JFB

v21Psalms 139:1-24thematic

Ultimate scriptural exposition of God searching out and knowing the deepest secrets of the heart.

Supported by Matthew Henry