Psalm 44:1-26 (NLT2)1 O God, we have heard it with our own ears— our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago:2 You drove out the pagan nations by your power and gave all the land to our ancestors. You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free.3 They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.4 You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel.5 Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes.6 I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me.7 You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us.8 O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. Interlude
9 But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle.10 You make us retreat from our enemies and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.11 You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations.12 You sold your precious people for a pittance, making nothing on the sale.13 You let our neighbors mock us. We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us.14 You have made us the butt of their jokes; they shake their heads at us in scorn.15 We can’t escape the constant humiliation; shame is written across our faces.16 All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies.17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant.18 Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path.19 Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death.20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,21 God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.22 But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever.24 Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?25 We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt.26 Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
9 But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle.10 You make us retreat from our enemies and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.11 You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations.12 You sold your precious people for a pittance, making nothing on the sale.13 You let our neighbors mock us. We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us.14 You have made us the butt of their jokes; they shake their heads at us in scorn.15 We can’t escape the constant humiliation; shame is written across our faces.16 All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies.17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant.18 Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path.19 Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death.20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,21 God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.22 But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever.24 Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?25 We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt.26 Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
Photo Credit: The Bible Chapel
A Plea For Justice
Believe it or not this Psalm is a song of Israel’s complaint against God. It is the only Psalm that actually rebuks God blaming Him for the nation’s defeat. The the trouble that the writer alludes to he attributes to God and not because of the nation’s disobedience or sin. The writer believes that God has the power to help but doesn’t.
The psalm begins by recounting the blessings of the past and moves quickly to boasting in God for the victories they have accomplished.Victories were achieved because of God not their power or abilities.
God had now abandoned them for some reason.Because He didn’t go with them their enemies had forced them to retreat.
Psalm 44:9-11 (NLT2)9 But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle.10 You make us retreat from our enemies and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.11 You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations.
The writer accuses God of turning His back on them. He makes sarcastic remarks saying that God had made a bad bargain in selling His people for nothing.
Psalm 44:12 (NLT2)12 You sold your precious people for a pittance, making nothing on the sale.
Afterall, in the opinion of the psalmist they had remained faithful.
Psalm 44:17-18, 20-21 (NLT2)17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant.18 Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path. 20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,21 God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.
He then pleas for justice.
Psalm 44:23-25 (NLT2)23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever.24 Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?
25 We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt.
After all the complaining and sarcasm the psalmist ends with a plea for mercy because of His unfailing love.
For Us Today
As the writer says, in this instance, Israel had done nothing wrong but their enemies had defeated them. This happens to Christians today. Because of the evil of this fallen world bad things happen.
Why does God let it happen? He allows it to make us strong.
Romans 5:3-5 (NLT2)3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
James 1:2-4 (NLT2)2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Believe it or not this Psalm is a song of Israel’s complaint against God. It is the only Psalm that actually rebuks God blaming Him for the nation’s defeat. The the trouble that the writer alludes to he attributes to God and not because of the nation’s disobedience or sin. The writer believes that God has the power to help but doesn’t.
The psalm begins by recounting the blessings of the past and moves quickly to boasting in God for the victories they have accomplished.Victories were achieved because of God not their power or abilities.
God had now abandoned them for some reason.Because He didn’t go with them their enemies had forced them to retreat.
Psalm 44:9-11 (NLT2)9 But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle.10 You make us retreat from our enemies and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.11 You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations.
The writer accuses God of turning His back on them. He makes sarcastic remarks saying that God had made a bad bargain in selling His people for nothing.
Psalm 44:12 (NLT2)12 You sold your precious people for a pittance, making nothing on the sale.
Afterall, in the opinion of the psalmist they had remained faithful.
Psalm 44:17-18, 20-21 (NLT2)17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant.18 Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path. 20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,21 God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.
He then pleas for justice.
Psalm 44:23-25 (NLT2)23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever.24 Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?
25 We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt.
After all the complaining and sarcasm the psalmist ends with a plea for mercy because of His unfailing love.
For Us Today
As the writer says, in this instance, Israel had done nothing wrong but their enemies had defeated them. This happens to Christians today. Because of the evil of this fallen world bad things happen.
Why does God let it happen? He allows it to make us strong.
Romans 5:3-5 (NLT2)3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
James 1:2-4 (NLT2)2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
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