What does Psalm 44:1 mean?
The psalmist acknowledges that he and his fellow Israelites were told stories of God's miraculous works on behalf of Israel (Psalm 44:2–3). Asaph, another psalmist, noted Israel's commitment to passing those experiences down to future generations (Psalm 78:3–4). Those events were the very essence of Israel's history, including the miraculous exodus from Egypt to the settlement in Canaan.God's works included the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), the supply of manna (Exodus 16), the provision of water from a rock (Exodus 17:1–7), the defeat of enemies in the wilderness (Exodus 17:8–16; Numbers 21), the crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 3), the collapse of Jericho's walls (Joshua 6), and the defeat of militaristic Canaanites in well-fortified cities (Joshua 7—12). Only God could have defeated the battle-seasoned Canaanites, as the Israelites had spent centuries as slaves in Egypt. They were accustomed to working with bricks and mortar; they had no training or experience in weaponry and fighting.
This is part of an introduction which will soon turn to anguish, as the writer struggles to understand Israel's current misery (Psalm 44:9).
This passage is labeled using the Hebrew word maskiyl, which seems to mean a pensive, somber song of self-reflection (Psalm 32; 52; 89). The "Sons of Korah" are likely descendants of those who survived God's judgment on Korah during the exodus (Numbers 16:25–32; 26:9–11).