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 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Come to Our Help
1To him that excelleth. A Psalme to give instruction, committed to the sonnes of Korah. We haue heard with our eares, O God: our fathers haue tolde vs the workes, that thou hast done in their dayes, in the olde time: 2Howe thou hast driuen out the heathen with thine hand, and planted them: how thou hast destroyed the people, and caused them to grow. 3For they inherited not the lande by their owne sworde, neither did their owne arme saue them: but thy right hand, and thine arme and the light of thy countenance, because thou didest fauour them. 4Thou art my King, O God: send helpe vnto Iaakob. 5Through thee haue we thrust backe our aduersaries: by thy Name haue we troden downe them that rose vp against vs. 6For I do not trust in my bowe, neither can my sworde saue me. 7But thou hast saued vs from our aduersaries, and hast put them to confusion that hate vs. 8Therefore will wee praise God continually, and will confesse thy Name for euer. Selah. 9But now thou art farre off, and puttest vs to confusion, and goest not forth with our armies. 10Thou makest vs to turne backe from the aduersary, and they, which hate vs, spoile for theselues. 11Thou giuest vs as sheepe to bee eaten, and doest scatter vs among the nations. 12Thou sellest thy people without gaine, and doest not increase their price. 13Thou makest vs a reproche to our neighbours, a iest and a laughing stocke to them that are round about vs. 14Thou makest vs a prouerbe among the nations, and a nodding of the head among the people. 15My confusion is dayly before me, and the shame of my face hath couered me, 16For the voyce of the slaunderer and rebuker, for the enemie and auenger. 17All this is come vpon vs, yet doe wee not forget thee, neither deale wee falsly concerning thy couenant. 18Our heart is not turned backe: neither our steps gone out of thy paths, 19Albeit thou hast smitten vs downe into the place of dragons, and couered vs with the shadow of death. 20If wee haue forgotten the Name of our God, and holden vp our hands to a strange god, 21Shall not God searche this out? for hee knoweth the secrets of the heart. 22Surely for thy sake are we slaine continually, and are counted as sheepe for the slaughter. 23Vp, why sleepest thou, O Lord? awake, be not farre off for euer. 24Wherefore hidest thou thy face? and forgettest our miserie and our affliction? 25For our soule is beaten downe vnto the dust: our belly cleaueth vnto the ground. 26Rise vp for our succour, and redeeme vs for thy mercies sake.