The Historic Faith of The Nation
July 4, 2021
Commentary
This Psalm may have been written right after a military loss or in connection with the Babylonian exile. God wanted the people to remember that the victory of Canaan was accomplished by the power of His hand. The people express their confidence in the Lord, based on His past dealings with the nation. Israel knew of God’s marvelous works in the past (v. 1). They recalled how the Lord gave them the land under Joshua (v. 2). They understood that it was not with their own sword they were able to possess the land but because of the Lord’s strong right arm (v. 3). They recognized 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 (v. 4). He tells how those who oppress Israel will one day be trodden under foot (vv. 5-8). Regardless of the resources that God may give us, we must not trust in them for success but must put our trust in Him alone.
All the happy and inspiring thoughts of the past (vv. 1-8) give way to a bitter complaint (vv. 9-14). Israel had to retreat from her enemies, and the Lord scattered them among the heathens. The armies of Israel had been dispersed throughout foreign countries, and many had been taken captive. They were defeated because the Lord no longer fought for them (vv. 9-10). The people were perplexed as to why the Lord would give them victory in the past but defeat in the present. Israel was God’s precious flock but now He was permitting them to be slaughtered and treated as worthless. Their enemies easily beat them at no great loss (vv. 11-12). The armies of Israel were now scorned by their enemies (v. 13), and the name “Jew” had become a byword for misery (v. 14).
Application
I may have to go through some times in my life that are not easy but that is not a time to question or blame God. Rather than complain, I need to be praising Him for what He has done and seeking to find out what He is trying to teach me in these difficult times.
Psalms 44:1–14 (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)
9 But you rejected and embarrassed us. You did not go into battle with our armies.
10 You made us retreat from the enemy. Those who hate us take whatever they want from us.
11 You handed us over like sheep to be eaten; you scattered us among the nations.
12 You sold your people for a pittance; you did not ask a high price for them.
13 You made us an object of disdain to our neighbors; those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.
14 You made us an object of ridicule among the nations; foreigners treat us with contempt.
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