The Historic Faith of The Nation

Topic: Victory
Passage: Psalms 44:1–8

July 4, 2021

Commentary

This Psalm can be divided into three parts:

  1. A description of former deliverances and victories (vv. 1-8).
  2. A sharing of present trouble and defeat (vv. 9-16).
  3. A mixture of praise and pleas (vv. 17-26).

It may have been written right after a military loss or in connection with the Babylonian exile. The Mosaic law required all Israelites to teach their children of God’s dealing with their nation (Ex. 10:2). God wanted the people to remember that the victory of Canaan was accomplished by the power of His hand. The Lord alone can be considered the conqueror of the promised land.

The people express their confidence in the Lord, based on His past dealings with the nation. After stating that Israel knew of God’s marvelous works in the past (v. 1), they specifically recall how the Lord gave them the land under Joshua (v. 2). They recognize this as a marvelous work of God. As a result of hearing what God had done in the past, the people put their trust in Him as their King. The psalmist expected deliverance from the enemies of Israel as his forefathers had experienced (vv. 3-4). He tells how those who oppress Israel will one day be trodden under foot (vv. 5-8).

Application

My praise for the Lord should be continual. I need to praise Him for the many victories He has performed in my past. I also need to praise Him for the things He continues to do.

Psalms 44:1– 8 (NET)

1 O God, we have clearly heard; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in ancient times.

2 You, by your power, defeated nations and settled our fathers on their land; you crushed the people living there and enabled our ancestors to occupy it.

3 For they did not conquer the land by their swords, and they did not prevail by their strength, but rather by your power, strength, and good favor, for you were partial to them.

4 You are my king, O God. Decree Jacob’s deliverance.

5 By your power we will drive back our enemies; by your strength we will trample down our foes.

6 For I do not trust in my bow, and I do not prevail by my sword.

7 For you deliver us from our enemies; you humiliate those who hate us.

8 In God we boast all day long, and we will continually give thanks to your name. (Selah)