What does Psalm 44:26 mean?

The psalmist concludes Psalm 44 with a vigorous appeal. Though anguished and frustrated to the point of despair (Psalm 44:23–25), he rightly sees that hope is found in God. Much as Job clung to the truth of God's love (Job 13:15), the psalmist makes mention of the Lord's "steadfast love." This comes from the Hebrew word checed and is sometimes rendered as "loving-kindness." The term implies loyalty, constancy, and care grounded in a relationship (Psalm 52:1; Exodus 15:13; Psalm 13:5; 25:6).

No matter how desperate a believer's situation, he can be certain that God loves him. Romans 8:38–39 affirms that nothing in all creation severs believers from the love of God. Addressing Israel, the Lord promised to regather her tribes in the Promised Land, where they would enjoy productivity and be joyful. In Jeremiah 31:17, He declared, "There is hope for your future." Why would the Lord restore Israel? An earlier statement provides the answer: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you" (Jeremiah 31:3).

When a believer feels low, it's important to remember the Lord's everlasting love. That truth means we are not abandoned or forsaken (Psalm 37:25; 2 Corinthians 4:9; Hebrews 13:5).