Psalms 44
Psalms 44 is part of “Book II: The Exodus Book” (42–72) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 44 summary
We are not told either who was the penmen of this psalm or when and upon what occasion it was penned, upon a melancholy occasion, we are sure, not so much to the penman himself (then we could have found occasions enough for it in the history of David and his afflictions), but to the church of God in general; and therefore, if we suppose it penned by David, yet we must attribute it purely to the Spirit of prophecy, and must conclude that the Spirit (whatever he himself had) had in view the captivity of Babylon, or the sufferings of the Jewish church under Antiochus, or rather the afflicted state of the Christian church in its early days (to…
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We are not told either who was the penmen of this psalm or when and upon what occasion it was penned, upon a melancholy occasion, we are sure, not so much to the penman himself (then we could have found occasions enough for it in the history of David and his afflictions), but to the church of God in general; and therefore, if we suppose it penned by David, yet we must attribute it purely to the Spirit of prophecy, and must conclude that the Spirit (whatever he himself had) had in view the captivity of Babylon, or the sufferings of the Jewish church under Antiochus, or rather the afflicted state of the Christian church in its early days (to which Psa 44:22 is applied by the apostle, Rom 8:36), and indeed in all its days on earth, for it is its determined lot that it must enter into the kingdom of heaven through many tribulations. And, if we have any gospel-psalms pointing at the privileges and comforts of Christians, why should we not have one pointing at their trials and exercises? It is a psalm calculated for a day of fasting and humiliation upon occasion of some public calamity, either pressing or threatening. In it the church is taught, I. To own with thankfulness, to the glory of God, the great things God has done for their fathers (Psa 44:1-8). II. To exhibit a memorial of their present calamitous estate (Psa 44:9-16). III. To file a protestation of their integrity and adherence to God notwithstanding (Psa 44:17-22). IV. To lodge a petition at the throne of grace for succour and relief (Psa 44:22-26). In singing this psalm we ought to give God the praise of what he has formerly done for his people, to represent our own grievances, or sympathize with those parts of the church that are in distress, to engage ourselves, whatever happens, to cleave to God and duty, and then cheerfully to wait the event. To the chief musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Psalms 44 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Come to Our Help
1For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah. Maschil. 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. 2Thou didst drive out the nations with thy hand; But them thou didst plant: Thou didst afflict the peoples; But them thou didst spread abroad. 3For 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. 4Thou art my King, O God: Command deliverance for Jacob. 5Through thee will we push down our adversaries: Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. 6For I will not trust in my bow, Neither shall my sword save me. 7But thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And hast put them to shame that hate us. 8In God have we made our boast all the day long, And we will give thanks unto thy name for ever. [Selah 9But now thou hast cast [us] off, and brought us to dishonor, And goest not forth with our hosts. 10Thou makest us to turn back from the adversary; And they that hate us take spoil for themselves. 11Thou hast made us like sheep [appointed] for food, And hast scattered us among the nations. 12Thou sellest thy people for nought, And hast not increased [thy wealth] by their price. 13Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to them that are round about us. 14Thou makest us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples. 15All the day long is my dishonor before me, And the shame of my face hath covered me, 16For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth, By reason of the enemy and the avenger. 17All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, Neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. 18Our heart is not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from thy way, 19That thou hast sore broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death. 20If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god; 21Will not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. 22Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 23Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise, cast [us] not off for ever. 24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And forgettest our affliction and our oppression? 25For our soul is bowed down to the dust: Our body cleaveth unto the earth. 26Rise up for our help, And redeem us for thy lovingkindness’ sake.