15 My confusion H3639 is continually H3117 before me, and the shame H1322 of my face H6440 hath covered H3680 me,
Because for thy sake I have borne H5375 reproach; H2781 shame H3639 hath covered H3680 my face. H6440
And Joshua H3091 said, H559 Alas, O H162 Lord H136 GOD, H3069 wherefore hast thou at all H5674 brought H5674 this people H5971 over H5674 Jordan, H3383 to deliver H5414 us into the hand H3027 of the Amorites, H567 to destroy H6 us? would to God H3863 we had been content, H2974 and dwelt H3427 on the other side H5676 Jordan! H3383 O H994 Lord, H136 what shall I say, H559 when H310 Israel H3478 turneth H2015 their backs H6203 before H6440 their enemies! H341 For the Canaanites H3669 and all the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 shall hear H8085 of it, and shall environ us round, H5437 and cut off H3772 our name H8034 from the earth: H776 and what wilt thou do H6213 unto thy great H1419 name? H8034
And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 an angel, H4397 which cut off H3582 all the mighty men H1368 of valour, H2428 and the leaders H5057 and captains H8269 in the camp H4264 of the king H4428 of Assyria. H804 So he returned H7725 with shame H1322 of face H6440 to his own land. H776 And when he was come H935 into the house H1004 of his god, H430 they that came forth H3329 of his own bowels H4578 slew H5307 him there with the sword. H2719
And said, H559 O my God, H430 I am ashamed H954 and blush H3637 to lift up H7311 my face H6440 to thee, my God: H430 for our iniquities H5771 are increased H7235 over H4605 our head, H7218 and our trespass H819 is grown up H1431 unto the heavens. H8064
We lie down H7901 in our shame, H1322 and our confusion H3639 covereth H3680 us: for we have sinned H2398 against the LORD H3068 our God, H430 we and our fathers, H1 from our youth H5271 even unto this day, H3117 and have not obeyed H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 our God. H430
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.