The Prayer for Victory
September 11, 2022
Commentary
Defeat and confusion had overtaken God’s people (vv. 15-16). How do we handle rejection and defeat? How do we react when our faith doesn’t seem to be getting results. In this passage the mystery of God seems to loom in the distance. In the immediate situation God’s people are suffering. Rather than causing them to forsake their faith they are driven to pray. Despite all their suffering the hearts of the people are right with God (vv. 17-22). Whenever there was trouble in Israel, the first explanation was usually “Somebody has sinned.” But as far as the psalmist knew, there was no sin to be confessed because the people were faithful to the Lord. They had not turned to the idols for help, and instead they had given their lives to protect the land God had given them.
Those who give their lives for God can be glorified even when it seems they have been defeated. Several decades ago, five young men in Ecuador gave their lives trying to reach the Auca Indians with the Gospel. Many people asked, “Why this waste?” What looked like a terrible defeat turned out to be a glorious victory as many young people around the world felt the call of God and surrendered to serve Him. God allowed this to carry out a plan known only to Himself.
We question our faith when we perceive a chasm between the promises of God and our felt reality. Out of deeply felt need, the people of God ask, “Why do you sleep” (v. 23)? We can’t always explain the tragedies of life, but Rom. 8:28 is still in the Bible. We may look like sheep before the slaughter (v. 22) but in God’s sight we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37). They ask God why He seems to be looking away and they don’t want Him to forget their sufferings (v. 24). In dependency on God, they lay prostrate on the ground, not having the power to rise (v. 25), do something, and come to their rescue (v. 26).
Application
Am I willing to suffer for Christ’s sake? It will always be for my good and for His glory. I have not had much suffering or pain in this life. However, none of us know what we may face before we leave this life. I only pray that I will be able to praise the Lord no matter what comes my way.
Psalms 44:15–26 (NET)
15 All day long I feel humiliated and am overwhelmed with shame,
16 before the vindictive enemy who ridicules and insults me.
17 All this has happened to us, even though we have not rejected you or violated your covenant with us.
18 We have not been unfaithful, nor have we disobeyed your commands.
19 Yet you have battered us, leaving us a heap of ruins overrun by wild dogs; you have covered us with darkness.
20 If we had rejected our God, and spread out our hands in prayer to another god,
21 would not God discover it, for he knows a person’s secret thoughts?
22 Yet because of you we are killed all day long; we are treated like sheep at the slaughtering block.
23 Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Wake up! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you look the other way, and ignore the way we are oppressed and mistreated?
25 For we lie in the dirt, with our bellies pressed to the ground.
26 Rise up and help us. Rescue us because of your loyal love.
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