1 [[To the chief Musician H5329 for the sons H1121 of Korah, H7141 Maschil.]] H4905 We have heard H8085 with our ears, H241 O God, H430 our fathers H1 have told H5608 us, what work H6467 thou didst H6466 in their days, H3117 in the times H3117 of old. H6924
2 How thou didst drive out H3423 the heathen H1471 with thy hand, H3027 and plantedst H5193 them; how thou didst afflict H7489 the people, H3816 and cast them out. H7971
3 For they got H3423 not the land H776 in possession H3423 by their own sword, H2719 neither did their own arm H2220 save H3467 them: but thy right hand, H3225 and thine arm, H2220 and the light H216 of thy countenance, H6440 because thou hadst a favour H7521 unto them.
4 Thou art my King, H4428 O God: H430 command H6680 deliverances H3444 for Jacob. H3290
5 Through thee will we push down H5055 our enemies: H6862 through thy name H8034 will we tread them under H947 that rise up H6965 against us.
6 For I will not trust H982 in my bow, H7198 neither shall my sword H2719 save H3467 me.
7 But thou hast saved H3467 us from our enemies, H6862 and hast put them to shame H954 that hated H8130 us.
8 In God H430 we boast H1984 all the day H3117 long, and praise H3034 thy name H8034 for ever. H5769 Selah. H5542
9 But H637 thou hast cast off, H2186 and put us to shame; H3637 and goest not forth H3318 with our armies. H6635
10 Thou makest us to turn H7725 back H268 from the enemy: H6862 and they which hate H8130 us spoil H8154 for themselves.
11 Thou hast given H5414 us like sheep H6629 appointed for meat; H3978 and hast scattered H2219 us among the heathen. H1471
12 Thou sellest H4376 thy people H5971 for nought, H1952 and dost not increase H7235 thy wealth by their price. H4242
13 Thou makest H7760 us a reproach H2781 to our neighbours, H7934 a scorn H3933 and a derision H7047 to them that are round about H5439 us.
14 Thou makest H7760 us a byword H4912 among the heathen, H1471 a shaking H4493 of the head H7218 among the people. H3816
15 My confusion H3639 is continually H3117 before me, and the shame H1322 of my face H6440 hath covered H3680 me,
16 For the voice H6963 of him that reproacheth H2778 and blasphemeth; H1442 by reason H6440 of the enemy H341 and avenger. H5358
17 All this is come H935 upon us; yet have we not forgotten H7911 thee, neither have we dealt falsely H8266 in thy covenant. H1285
18 Our heart H3820 is not turned H5472 back, H268 neither have our steps H838 declined H5186 from thy way; H734
19 Though thou hast sore broken H1794 us in the place H4725 of dragons, H8577 and covered H3680 us with the shadow of death. H6757
20 If we have forgotten H7911 the name H8034 of our God, H430 or stretched out H6566 our hands H3709 to a strange H2114 god; H410
21 Shall not God H430 search this out? H2713 for he knoweth H3045 the secrets H8587 of the heart. H3820
22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed H2026 all the day H3117 long; we are counted H2803 as sheep H6629 for the slaughter. H2878
23 Awake, H5782 why sleepest H3462 thou, O Lord? H136 arise, H6974 cast us not off H2186 for ever. H5331
24 Wherefore hidest H5641 thou thy face, H6440 and forgettest H7911 our affliction H6040 and our oppression? H3906
25 For our soul H5315 is bowed down H7743 to the dust: H6083 our belly H990 cleaveth H1692 unto the earth. H776
26 Arise H6965 for our help, H5833 and redeem H6299 us for thy mercies' H2617 sake.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 44
Commentary on Psalms 44 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 44
Ps 44:1-26. In a time of great national distress, probably in David's reign, the Psalmist recounts God's gracious dealings in former times, and the confidence they had learned to repose in Him. After a vivid picture of their calamities, he humbly expostulates against God's apparent forgetfulness, reminding Him of their faithfulness and mourning their heavy sorrows.
1-3. This period is that of the settlement of Canaan (Jos 24:12; Jud 6:3).
have told—or, "related" (compare Ex 10:2).
2. plantedst them—that is, "our fathers," who are also, from the parallel construction of the last clause, to be regarded as the object of "cast them out," which means—literally, "send" them out, or, "extend them." Heathen and people denote the nations who were driven out to make room for the Israelites.
4. Thou art my King—literally, "he who is my King," sustaining the same covenant relation as to the "fathers."
5. The figure drawn from the habits of the ox.
6-8. God is not only our sole help, but only worthy of praise.
7. put … to shame—(compare Ps 6:10), disgraced.
8. thy name—as in Ps 5:11.
9. But—contrasting, cast off as abhorrent (Ps 43:2).
goest not forth—literally, "will not go" (2Sa 5:23). In several consecutive verses the leading verb is future, and the following one past (in Hebrew), thus denoting the causes and effects. Thus (Ps 44:10-12), when defeated, spoiling follows; when delivered as sheep, dispersion follows, &c.
11. The Babylonian captivity not necessarily meant. There were others (compare 1Ki 8:46).
13, 14. (Compare De 28:37; Ps 79:4).
15. shame of … face—blushes in disgrace.
16. Its cause, the taunts and presence of malignant enemies (Ps 8:2).
17-19. They had not apostatized totally—were still God's people.
18. declined—turned aside from God's law.
19. sore broken—crushed.
place of dragons—desolate, barren, rocky wilderness (Ps 63:10; Isa 13:22),
shadow of death—(Compare Ps 23:4).
20, 21. A solemn appeal to God to witness their constancy.
stretched out … hands—gesture of worship (Ex 9:29; Ps 88:9).
22. Their protracted sufferings as God's people attests the constancy. Paul (Ro 8:36) uses this to describe Christian steadfastness in persecution.
23-26. This style of addressing God, as indifferent, is frequent (Ps 3:7; 9:19; 13:1, &c.). However low their condition, God is appealed to, on the ground, and for the honor, of His mercy.