Overview
(NET) Psalm 44. The speakers in this psalm (the worshiping community within the nation Israel) were disappointed with God. The psalm begins on a positive note, praising God for leading Israel to past military victories. Verses 1–8 appear to be a song of confidence and petition which the people recited prior to battle. But suddenly the mood changes as the nation laments a recent defeat. The stark contrast between the present and the past only heightens the nation’s confusion. Israel trusted in God for victory, but the Lord rejected them and allowed them to be humiliated in battle. If Israel had been unfaithful to God, their defeat would make sense, but the nation was loyal to the Lord. Comparing the Lord to a careless shepherd, the nation urges God to wake up and to extend his compassion to his suffering people.
(EBC)
A. God’s Past Acts of Deliverance (vv. 1–3)
B. Confidence in God (vv. 4–8)
C. Suffering and Disgrace (vv. 9–16)
D. Claim of Innocence (vv. 17–22)
E. Prayer for Deliverance (vv. 23–26)
Observations:
(1) v.1-8
44:1 O God, we have clearly heard;
our ancestors have told us
what you did in their days,
in ancient times
(NET) [ancient times] This refers specifically to the days of Joshua, during Israel’s conquest of the land, as vv. 2–3 indicate.
Their nation was established by God's "power," and not by their own "strength." The nations were "crushed," and for God were "partial to them." (v.2-3). The psalmist knew that God will continue to bless them now and therefore, the power and strength of God was repeated in v.4-8 and this time applied to the psalmist's generation.
v.8 In God I boast all day long,
and we will continually give thanks to your name.
(2) v.9-16 "But"
The mood changed 180 degree when the psalmist looked the present situation. They were in captivity and the pronoun, "you" were repeated to emphasize that God was the one who made them like that.
44:9 But you rejected and embarrassed us!
You did not go into battle with our armies.
44:10 You made us retreat from the enemy.
Those who hate us take whatever they want from us.
44:11 You handed us over like sheep to be eaten;
you scattered us among the nations.
From the powerful nation they were now being ridicule. Personally, the psalmist felt humiliated and shameful.
(3) Man were innocent and therefore calling to God to rise up and help v.17-26
The psalmist thought of the all the possible reasons for the abandonment from God v.17-21, but they had not turned their back to God.
44:22 Yet because of you we are killed all day long;
we are treated like sheep at the slaughtering block.
Paul quoted this verse in Rom 8:36, but he did not find God abandoning them anymore
Rom 8:37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!
Reflections:
a. v.1-8 Based on God's covenant, the psalmist knew that God would continue to bless them like what He had done to their ancestor. They could rely on God's power and counted on His love for them.
From our mind, we could analyze what God had done in the past and knew that He will not abandon us now.b. v.9-26 Since God was so powerful the present suffering had no other reason other than God had made them that way.
Our feelings were hurt when we were humiliated by our enemies. We could not make sense out of our presence situation v.17-26. The analysis from v.1-8 could not help us.
c. Rom 8:36-37 Thank God. From the NT we see the assurance. The Son of God died on the Cross for us. No more doubt if God loves us. In other words, people could treat us like sheep at the slaughtering block. But we can have complete victory through him who loved us. It does not matter what they do to us and how they see us. Our hope is not in this world.
Audrey
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