What does Psalm 44:4 mean?

The psalmist expresses devotion and loyalty to the Lord. Both titles—"King" and "God"—point to the Lord's sovereignty and right to command His subjects, including the psalmist. He also asks his King to "ordain salvation for Jacob." Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:27–28), was the father of the heads of the tribes of Israel. So. the psalmist was asking his King to grant victory over Israel's enemies. The writer is confident God was able to grant victory to the Israelites, as surely as He granted victory generations earlier to the Israelites who invaded Canaan (Psalm 44:1–3).

Today, too, the Lord can make His people victorious over their foes, including "the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life" (1 John 2:16). Paul told the Ephesian believers, "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). He commanded the believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18).

And yet, God does not always grant earthly victory or success. The reasons for this are not always clear—after expressing faith, the psalmist will go on to voice frustration that Israel has recently been humiliated in battle (Psalm 44:9).