We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
For 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.
Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.
Psalms 44 offers a raw and honest expression of national lament, a prayer from a people who feel abandoned by God despite their faithfulness. It's a powerful reminder that even in the depths of despair, we can bring our questions and pain before the Lord. This psalm explores themes of past deliverance, present suffering, and a desperate plea for God's intervention. Understanding its context and message can offer comfort and guidance when facing our own trials.
Context: A Nation's Humiliation
The psalm appears to arise from a period of significant military defeat for Israel. While the exact historical event isn't explicitly named, clues within the text, along with suggestions from some commentators, point towards a possible conflict with Edom (Psalms 60; 85; Amos 1:6; 2 Samuel 8:13). This could have been a situation where Israel was caught off guard and suffered a devastating loss while their main forces were engaged elsewhere. Regardless of the specific event, the psalm reflects a deep sense of national shame and confusion, as the people grapple with what feels like God's abandonment. The psalmist's honesty in expressing these feelings is a testament to the biblical writers' willingness to portray the full spectrum of human emotions in their relationship with God, a theme echoed in Psalms 69 and 73, and Habakkuk 1.
Remembering God's Past Deliverance (44:1-8)
The psalm begins by recalling the stories of God's mighty acts in the past. The psalmist speaks of how God drove out the nations before them and established Israel in the Promised Land (Psalms 44:1-3). This wasn't due to Israel's own strength or prowess, but solely because of God's favor and power. These triumphs were passed down through generations, becoming foundational stories of faith and national identity, recorded in books like Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. The psalmist acknowledges that God deserves all the praise for these past victories. Because of what God had done in the past for their ancestors, the psalmist and those with him could trust their divine King to provide continuing victories for them (Psalms 44:4).
This recollection of God's past faithfulness serves as a foundation for the psalmist's plea. Knowing that past success came from the Lord, in whom they could rightly boast and to whom they could offer praise (Psalms 44:7-8), they believe that any future success will also depend on God's power, not their own.
The Agony of Present Defeat (44:9-16)
The tone shifts dramatically as the psalmist describes the current state of affairs. The nation has experienced defeat at the hands of their enemies. Thus, they felt rejected by God (Psalms 44:9). They are now experiencing shame, ridicule, and taunting from their enemies. They had become a source of ridicule to their enemies; they were filled with disgrace and shame. The situation is so dire that the name of Israel has become a punchline, a symbol of their current humiliation. The psalmist feels that God has completely abandoned them, making them retreat, handing them over to their enemies, and selling them for next to nothing (Psalms 44:10-14). The psalmist experiences profound humiliation and embarrassment, feeling utterly forsaken. Just as victory is ultimately from the Lord, so is defeat. They recognized that everything that happened to them was from him.
A Cry of Innocence and a Plea for Help (44:17-26)
Adding to the pain is the psalmist's conviction that this suffering is undeserved. The psalmist and the people believe they had not forgotten the Lord or betrayed their covenant with him (Psalms 44:17). Therefore, they didn’t feel their defeat was deserved. They had not turned from God to idols (Psalms 44:20). Unlike past defeats that were a consequence of disobedience (Numbers 14:39–45; Deuteronomy 30:15–18), the psalmist insists that Israel has remained loyal to God and has not embraced false idols.
This leads to a desperate cry for God to intervene. The psalmist cries out to God to wake from his sleeping. In other words, he couldn’t imagine that God would intentionally reject them or delay in addressing their plight (Psalms 44:23). He couldn’t believe he would ignore their misery. They had sunk down and reached their lowest point (Psalms 44:25), yet they would continue to trust God to deliver them. The writer employs the question human beings ask amid suffering: "why?" The psalmist pleads with God to remember His covenant love and to redeem His people, not because of their own merit, but because of His steadfast faithfulness. As the psalmist says, "Redeem us because of your steadfast love!" (Psalms 44:26).
It's important to note that Paul quotes Psalms 44:22 in Romans 8:36, emphasizing that Christians can expect to face suffering and persecution. This doesn't mean God has abandoned them, but rather that suffering is a part of the Christian experience.
Lessons for Today
Psalms 44 offers several important lessons for believers today:
- It's okay to express raw emotions to God: The psalmist's honesty in expressing doubt, confusion, and pain is a reminder that God can handle our unfiltered emotions. We don't have to pretend to be strong or have all the answers when we come before Him.
- Remember God's faithfulness in the past: Recalling God's past faithfulness can provide hope and strength in times of difficulty. Remembering what he has done in the past helps us to understand that suffering is part of the experience of God’s people on this fallen earth, and trust him to deliver us according to his faithfulness.
- Suffering doesn't always mean punishment: The psalmist's insistence on their innocence challenges the simplistic notion that suffering is always a direct result of sin. Sometimes, suffering is a test of faith, an opportunity for growth, or a consequence of living in a fallen world.
- Never stop praying: Even in the midst of despair, the psalmist continues to cry out to God. This demonstrates the importance of persevering in prayer, even when we don't see immediate results.
When you experience unjust suffering and it seems that God has abandoned you, don’t cease trusting him. Just as God had delivered their ancestors because of his strength, not theirs (Psalms 44:3), so the psalmist pleads with God to redeem his people—not because of their worthiness—but because of his faithful love (Psalms 44:26). Psalms 44 reminds us that God is always present, even when He feels distant, and that He will ultimately deliver those who trust in Him.
We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
For 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.
Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.
Psalms 44 offers a raw and honest expression of national lament, a prayer from a people who feel abandoned by God despite their faithfulness. It's a powerful reminder that even in the depths of despair, we can bring our questions and pain before the Lord. This psalm explores themes of past deliverance, present suffering, and a desperate plea for God's intervention. Understanding its context and message can offer comfort and guidance when facing our own trials.
Context: A Nation's Humiliation
The psalm appears to arise from a period of significant military defeat for Israel. While the exact historical event isn't explicitly named, clues within the text, along with suggestions from some commentators, point towards a possible conflict with Edom (Psalms 60; 85; Amos 1:6; 2 Samuel 8:13). This could have been a situation where Israel was caught off guard and suffered a devastating loss while their main forces were engaged elsewhere. Regardless of the specific event, the psalm reflects a deep sense of national shame and confusion, as the people grapple with what feels like God's abandonment. The psalmist's honesty in expressing these feelings is a testament to the biblical writers' willingness to portray the full spectrum of human emotions in their relationship with God, a theme echoed in Psalms 69 and 73, and Habakkuk 1.
Remembering God's Past Deliverance (44:1-8)
The psalm begins by recalling the stories of God's mighty acts in the past. The psalmist speaks of how God drove out the nations before them and established Israel in the Promised Land (Psalms 44:1-3). This wasn't due to Israel's own strength or prowess, but solely because of God's favor and power. These triumphs were passed down through generations, becoming foundational stories of faith and national identity, recorded in books like Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. The psalmist acknowledges that God deserves all the praise for these past victories. Because of what God had done in the past for their ancestors, the psalmist and those with him could trust their divine King to provide continuing victories for them (Psalms 44:4).
This recollection of God's past faithfulness serves as a foundation for the psalmist's plea. Knowing that past success came from the Lord, in whom they could rightly boast and to whom they could offer praise (Psalms 44:7-8), they believe that any future success will also depend on God's power, not their own.
The Agony of Present Defeat (44:9-16)
The tone shifts dramatically as the psalmist describes the current state of affairs. The nation has experienced defeat at the hands of their enemies. Thus, they felt rejected by God (Psalms 44:9). They are now experiencing shame, ridicule, and taunting from their enemies. They had become a source of ridicule to their enemies; they were filled with disgrace and shame. The situation is so dire that the name of Israel has become a punchline, a symbol of their current humiliation. The psalmist feels that God has completely abandoned them, making them retreat, handing them over to their enemies, and selling them for next to nothing (Psalms 44:10-14). The psalmist experiences profound humiliation and embarrassment, feeling utterly forsaken. Just as victory is ultimately from the Lord, so is defeat. They recognized that everything that happened to them was from him.
A Cry of Innocence and a Plea for Help (44:17-26)
Adding to the pain is the psalmist's conviction that this suffering is undeserved. The psalmist and the people believe they had not forgotten the Lord or betrayed their covenant with him (Psalms 44:17). Therefore, they didn’t feel their defeat was deserved. They had not turned from God to idols (Psalms 44:20). Unlike past defeats that were a consequence of disobedience (Numbers 14:39–45; Deuteronomy 30:15–18), the psalmist insists that Israel has remained loyal to God and has not embraced false idols.
This leads to a desperate cry for God to intervene. The psalmist cries out to God to wake from his sleeping. In other words, he couldn’t imagine that God would intentionally reject them or delay in addressing their plight (Psalms 44:23). He couldn’t believe he would ignore their misery. They had sunk down and reached their lowest point (Psalms 44:25), yet they would continue to trust God to deliver them. The writer employs the question human beings ask amid suffering: "why?" The psalmist pleads with God to remember His covenant love and to redeem His people, not because of their own merit, but because of His steadfast faithfulness. As the psalmist says, "Redeem us because of your steadfast love!" (Psalms 44:26).
It's important to note that Paul quotes Psalms 44:22 in Romans 8:36, emphasizing that Christians can expect to face suffering and persecution. This doesn't mean God has abandoned them, but rather that suffering is a part of the Christian experience.
Lessons for Today
Psalms 44 offers several important lessons for believers today:
- It's okay to express raw emotions to God: The psalmist's honesty in expressing doubt, confusion, and pain is a reminder that God can handle our unfiltered emotions. We don't have to pretend to be strong or have all the answers when we come before Him.
- Remember God's faithfulness in the past: Recalling God's past faithfulness can provide hope and strength in times of difficulty. Remembering what he has done in the past helps us to understand that suffering is part of the experience of God’s people on this fallen earth, and trust him to deliver us according to his faithfulness.
- Suffering doesn't always mean punishment: The psalmist's insistence on their innocence challenges the simplistic notion that suffering is always a direct result of sin. Sometimes, suffering is a test of faith, an opportunity for growth, or a consequence of living in a fallen world.
- Never stop praying: Even in the midst of despair, the psalmist continues to cry out to God. This demonstrates the importance of persevering in prayer, even when we don't see immediate results.
When you experience unjust suffering and it seems that God has abandoned you, don’t cease trusting him. Just as God had delivered their ancestors because of his strength, not theirs (Psalms 44:3), so the psalmist pleads with God to redeem his people—not because of their worthiness—but because of his faithful love (Psalms 44:26). Psalms 44 reminds us that God is always present, even when He feels distant, and that He will ultimately deliver those who trust in Him.