20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god;
"If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot has hurried to deceit (Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know my integrity); If my step has turned out of the way, If my heart walked after my eyes, If any defilement has stuck to my hands, Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yes, let the produce of my field be rooted out. "If my heart has been enticed to a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor's door; Then let my wife grind for another, And let others sleep with her. For that would be a heinous crime; Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges: For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase. "If I have despised the cause of my man-servant Or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me; What then shall I do when God rises up? When he visits, what shall I answer him? Didn't he who made me in the womb make him? Didn't one fashion us in the womb? "If I have withheld the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless has not eaten of it (No, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, Her have I guided from my mother's womb); If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering; If his heart hasn't blessed me, If he hasn't been warmed with my sheep's fleece; If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate: Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And my arm be broken from the bone. For calamity from God is a terror to me, By reason of his majesty I can do nothing. "If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, 'You are my confidence;' If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much; If I have seen the sun when it shined, Or the moon moving in splendor, And my heart has been secretly enticed, My hand threw a kiss from my mouth: This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above. "If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him; (Yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking his life with a curse); If the men of my tent have not said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?' (The foreigner has not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to the traveler); If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding my iniquity in my heart, Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and didn't go out of the door-- Oh that I had one to hear me! (Behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); Let the accuser write my indictment! Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; And I would bind it to me as a crown. I would declare to him the number of my steps. As a prince would I go near to him. If my land cries out against me, And the furrows of it weep together; If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, Or have caused the owners of it to lose their life: Let briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.
Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, If there is iniquity in my hands, If I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (Yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary), Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; Yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, And lay my glory in the dust. Selah.
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.