Psalm 44:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?

NIV: Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

NASB: Why do You hide Your face And forget our affliction and oppression?

CSB: Why do you hide and forget our affliction and oppression?

NLT: Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?

KJV: Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

NKJV: Why do You hide Your face, And forget our affliction and our oppression?

"Why" is perhaps the most painful single word in any language. As limited beings, we cannot fully understand all things. When circumstances are beyond our grasp, and we suffer, that lack of understanding adds to our pain. Here, the psalmist grieves that Israel has suffered humiliation for what he believes is no reason at all (Psalm 44:17–22). The prior verse went as far as to accuse—or at least almost accuse—the Lord of being indifferent and "asleep" regarding Israel's pain. Now the writer directly asks to know the cause behind his anguish.

In biblical writing, the idea of God turning His face towards or away from someone was a symbol of favor or displeasure. The Levitical benediction includes the hope that the Lord would shine His face upon His people and be gracious to them (Numbers 6:24–26). However, the Lord's face is "against those who do evil" (Psalm 34:16). The psalmist was certain that Israel had not committed evil, so he wondered why the Lord was hiding His face from the nation. It seemed that the Lord had forgotten Israel during her affliction and oppression. But the Lord does not forget His people. Jerusalem says to the Lord in Isaiah 49:14: "The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me." But the Lord answers: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you" (Isaiah 49:15).

In the book of Romans, Paul cites an earlier verse from this psalm (Romans 8:36; Psalm 44:22) when teaching that suffering does not prove God has abandoned His love for us (Romans 8:28–39). Other Scriptures express honest human frustration (Habakkuk 1:2–4; Psalm 73:2–3). Yet they also note the ultimate goodness of God (Job 13:15; Psalm 73:15–19; Habakkuk 1:5–11). Even here, in expressing his agony, the psalmist refers to God's "steadfast love" and loyalty (Psalm 44:26).

Psalm 44:23–26 contains one of Scripture's boldest, rawest complaints levied against the Lord. This closing section of Psalm 44 comprises the psalmist's desperate plea for help. After insisting Israel's recent humiliation was not due to national sin (Psalm 44:17–22), the psalm turns to a prayer for rescue. This starts with a suggestion—possibly a rhetorical statement—that God is sleeping and ignoring the situation. However, the prayer is also grounded in the assumption of God's "steadfast love."

Israel passed down stories of God's miraculous power and the victories the Lord granted. However, this psalm comes after the nation has suffered some humiliating defeat. The psalmist struggles to understand why, as he sees no evidence of national sin in Israel to justify punishment. The writer expresses raw emotion, frustrated and anguished, yet prays for rescue out of faith in God's lovingkindness.

This psalm seems to follow a major defeat in battle. No explicit context is given, though the psalmist claims it was not God's punishment for national idolatry. Some commentators see connection to a conflict with Edom, who surprised Israel when the nation was engaged in other battles (Psalm 60; 85; Amos 1:6; 2 Samuel 8:13) as a possible explanation. This is another example of biblical writers expressing raw human emotions as they struggle to understand God's will. Psalms 69 and 73 include related themes. Habakkuk chapter 1 expresses similar ideas.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.