The Bible: Psalms Chapter 44: with Audio and Commentary.

Version: World English Bible.

Please use the links below to select any Book and then the Chapter.

Gene Exod Levi Numb Deut Josh Judg Ruth 1Sam 2Sam 1Kin 2Kin 1Chr 2Chr Ezra Nehe Esth Job_ Psal Prov Eccl Song Isai Jere Lame Ezek Dani Hose Joel Amos Obad Jona Mica Nahu Haba Zeph Hagg Zech Mala Matt Mark Luke John Acts Roma 1Cor 2Cor Gala Ephe Phil Colo 1The 2The 1Tim 2Tim Titu Phle Hebr Jame 1Pet 2Pet 1Joh 2Joh 3Joh Jude Reve

001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021 022 023 024 025 026 027 028 029 030 031 032 033 034 035 036 037 038 039 040 041 042 043 044 045 046 047 048 049 050 051 052 053 054 055 056 057 058 059 060 061 062 063 064 065 066 067 068 069 070 071 072 073 074 075 076 077 078 079 080 081 082 083 084 085 086 087 088 089 090 091 092 093 094 095 096 097 098 099 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150

Psalms Chapter 44 For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.

1 We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old.

2 You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad.

3 For they didn't get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favourable to them.

4 You are my King, God. Command victories for Jacob!

5 Through you, will we push down our adversaries. Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us.

6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.

7 But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us.

8 In God we have made our boast all day long, we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.

9 But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonour, and don't go out with our armies.

10 You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder for themselves.

11 You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us amongst the nations.

12 You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale.

13 You make us a reproach to our neighbours, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.

14 You make us a byword amongst the nations, a shaking of the head amongst the peoples.

15 All day long my dishonour is before me, and shame covers my face,

16 at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.

17 All this has come on us, yet we haven't forgotten you. We haven't been false to your covenant.

18 Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path,

19 though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.

20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god,

21 won't God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

22 Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.

23 Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don't reject us forever.

24 Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth.

26 Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness' sake.

Footnotes

Verse 23 (Lord)
The word translated "Lord" is "Adonai."

Version: World English Bible

Audio

To Listen to this Chapter

The mp3 Audio File should start to play in a new Tab. Then return to this Tab to follow the text whilst listening.

Psalms Chapter 44 For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm. Guide

The final meaning of this psalm is discovered in its last four verses. It is a prayer for deliverance from defeat. Its strength of appeal lies in its recognition of the government of God. He is the Author of good and evil. Of course, evil is used here in the sense of disaster and calamity. The psalmist sings of the God of good first (verses Psalms 44:1-8). There is a double recognition of this. History attests it. The testimony of the fathers affirms it.

They had originally come into possession by the act of God (verses Psalms 44:1-3). Then there is personal recognition of it. Trust is to be reposed in nothing save God (verses Psalms 44:4-8). The word "but" indicates a change. The day is one of disaster, and this is recognized as the act of God, "Thou hast cast us off." "Thou makest us to turn back," and so on (verses Psalms 44:9-16). Yet there has been no apostasy. Nay, rather it has been a pathway of suffering for the sake of God and His name (verses Psalms 44:17-22). Light is thrown on this by Paul's use of the words in Romans 8:36.

Then follows the plea for help and deliverance. It is a perfectly honest and reasonable plea, yet the wonderful advance of Christian experience is nowhere more plainly shown than here. The apostle of the new covenant makes no appeal for deliverance, but rather declares that in all these things we are more than conquerors, and affirms that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.

Psalms Chapter 44 Commentary

Chapter Outline

  1. A petition for succour and relief.

Verses 1-8

Former experiences of God's power and goodness are strong supports to faith, and powerful pleas in prayer under present calamities. The many victories Israel obtained, were not by their own strength or merit, but by God's favour and free grace. The less praise this allows us, the more comfort it affords, that we may see all as coming from the favour of God. He fought for Israel, else they had fought in vain. This is applicable to the planting of the Christian church in the world, which was not by any human policy or power. Christ, by his Spirit, went forth conquering and to conquer; and he that planted a church for himself in the world, will support it by the same power and goodness. They trusted and triumphed in and through him. Let him that glories, glory in the Lord. But if they have the comfort of his name, let them give unto him the glory due unto it.

Verses 9-16

The believer must have times of temptation, affliction, and discouragement; the church must have seasons of persecution. At such times the people of God will be ready to fear that he has cast them off, and that his name and truth will be dishonoured. But they should look above the instruments of their trouble, to God, well knowing that their worst enemies have no power against them, but what is permitted from above.

Verses 17-26

In afflictions, we must not seek relief by any sinful compliance; but should continually meditate on the truth, purity, and knowledge of our heart-searching God. Hearts sins and secret sins are known to God, and must be reckoned for. He knows the secret of the heart, therefore judges of the words and actions. While our troubles do not drive us from our duty to God, we should not suffer them to drive us from our comfort in God. Let us take care that prosperity and ease do not render us careless and lukewarm. The church of God cannot be prevailed on by persecution to forget God; the believer's heart does not turn back from God. The Spirit of prophecy had reference to those who suffered unto death, for the testimony of Christ. Observe the pleas used, ver. #(25, 26). Not their own merit and righteousness, but the poor sinner's pleas. None that belong to Christ shall be cast off, but every one of them shall be saved, and that for ever. The mercy of God, purchased, promised, and constantly flowing forth, and offered to believers, does away every doubt arising from our sins; while we pray in faith, Redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.